University of Alberta researchers will help Canada get ready for the next infectious disease pandemic, thanks to nearly $100 million in new federal research grants to find and make new vaccines, diagnostic tests and treatments against a wide range of threats.
Soraya Martinez Ferrada, minister of tourism and minister responsible for the economic development agency of Canada for the regions of Quebec, on behalf of François-Philippe Champagne, minister of innovation, science and industry, and Mark Holland, minister of health, announced nearly $574 million today for pandemic preparedness projects at five research hubs across the country.
"The projects that we're supporting today will strengthen our ability to supply medicines, vaccines and therapeutics for the benefit of Canadians," Martinez Ferrada says. "These collaborations between research hubs, postsecondary institutions and research hospitals will foster innovation across the country. Thanks to the work of experienced scientists in institutions at the cutting edge of innovation, Canada will be ready to respond to future health priorities."
Four successful projects were put forward by the PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness, which is led by the University of Alberta and includes researchers from the University of Manitoba, the University of Saskatchewan and the University of Calgary, along with biomanufacturing industry partners.
Joanne Lemieux, professor of biochemistry and executive scientific director of the PRAIRIE Hub, led the efforts to bring together teams of academic and industry leaders from across the Prairies to find ways to counter emerging health threats and accelerate biomanufacturing in Canada.
"Seven million people died worldwide from SARS-CoV-2 and it was devastating," says Lemieux.
