The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) in Saskatoon has embarked on a groundbreaking project to develop a pan-sarbecovirus vaccine, thanks to a substantial grant from the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). This multi-million-dollar funding, amounting to $24 million, marks a significant step toward creating a vaccine designed to protect against a range of potentially deadly coronaviruses. This initiative aims to shield humanity from viruses such as SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2, the latter being responsible for the COVID-19 pandemic.
The project builds upon VIDO's earlier efforts in developing a variant-proof COVID-19 vaccine, which also received financial backing from CEPI in 2021. The importance of this endeavor is underscored by Dr. Nicole Lurie, CEPI's executive director of emergency preparedness and response, who emphasized that the world was not prepared for COVID-19. The persistent threat posed by coronaviruses, described by Dr. Richard Hatchett, CEO of CEPI, as "behind some of the deadliest outbreaks in the 21st century and the threat of a novel coronavirus threat (is) ever present," highlights the urgency of this research.
"This would be an essential preparedness step for the world that could prevent the escalation of cases in a future outbreak, and save time, money, and, ultimately, lives." – Dr. Richard Hatchett
The ambitious project, often referred to as the pursuit of a "holy grail" of vaccines, seeks to preemptively tackle pandemics before they begin. Dr. Lurie explained that the innovative design of this vaccine involves presenting fragments of multiple coronaviruses together, potentially inducing a robust immune response. If successful, this vaccine could offer protection against both known coronaviruses and those yet to emerge.
"The clever design works by presenting fragments of several coronaviruses together to potentially induce a strong immune response. If it’s successful, this vaccine could kind of serve as a holy grail, protecting us against both the coronaviruses we know about and the ones that could still strike in the future," – Lurie
To support this vital research, VIDO is upgrading its containment capabilities to level four, the highest level necessary for handling pathogens. Currently, Canada boasts only one other level four containment lab located in Winnipeg. This new facility will enable VIDO to study pathogens across various animal species and enhance their predictive capabilities regarding future pathogens.
"You can use artificial intelligence (and other tools) to predict where those mutations will take place and develop vaccines today for tomorrow’s pathogen," – Volker Gerdts
The project is expected to culminate in approximately two years, coinciding with the completion of the new lab. Moreover, VIDO's cutting-edge vaccine manufacturing facilities will significantly reduce development time, expediting the journey from research to clinical testing.
VIDO's director and CEO, Volker Gerdts, highlighted the importance of predicting future pathogens and how this project will contribute to that goal. This sentiment was echoed by Peter Stoicheff from the University of Saskatchewan, praising the global recognition of VIDO's scientific prowess.
"This tremendous investment highlights the global recognition of VIDO’s scientific excellence and the University of Saskatchewan’s commitment to addressing some of the world’s most pressing health challenges," – Peter Stoicheff
In addition to CEPI's substantial grant, Terry Duguid noted that since 2020, PrairiesCan has invested over $120 million to elevate VIDO into a leading hub for research, innovation, and vaccine manufacturing.
"Since 2020, PrairiesCan has invested over $120 million to help VIDO become a world-class hub for research, innovation, and vaccine manufacturing — work that promises to deliver benefits far beyond our borders," – Terry Duguid
