Prime Minister announces additional funding to support COVID-19 research

SASKATOON, SASKATCHEWAN — Today, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced investments toward research on the novel coronavirus, including more than $11 million that will help support the operation of the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre (VIDO–InterVac). Researchers at the state-of-the-art research facility recently announced they had isolated the novel coronavirus and are currently putting a possible vaccine for COVID-19 through first rounds of testing. 

The funding was made through the Canada Foundation for Innovation’s Major Science Initiatives (MSI) Fund, which ensures Canada’s large, national research facilities have the funding needed to operate and stay on the cutting edge of research.

Canada’s world-leading infectious disease centre

VIDO–InterVac is one of the largest and most advanced research facilities in the world working on animal and human infectious diseases, ranging from African swine flu to tuberculosis to coronaviruses. Canada’s contribution to the worldwide research effort to create a vaccine for COVID-19 — which is coordinated by the World Health Organization — is one example of how vital it is for the country’s national research facilities to be prepared to respond to emerging health challenges in order to protect Canadians’ health and quality of life.