VIDO director tells Evan Bray Sask. will be a test centre for NATO

The world’s largest military alliance is turning to expertise in Saskatchewan to help protect the billion people living under North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

The University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) has been selected to join NATO’s Defence Innovation Accelerator (DIANA) program. VIDO is one of 13 new Canadian test centres selected to be part of DIANA, which is focused on innovation in biotechnology, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing and space.

“VIDO is excited to play a key role in the DIANA network,” director Volker Gerdts told the Evan Bray Show on Tuesday.

“It’s recognition of the very unique infrastructure we have in place at the university, but also the expertise of the people that are working here.”

DIANA supports companies working on solutions in key sectors and helps validate their technologies by using its test centre network. Test centres are selected as the very best venues for innovators to develop and evaluate their concepts and technologies.

As a test centre in biotechnology, Gerdts said VIDO will use its specialized containment and manufacturing facilities to help DIANA innovators advance new technologies to protect human and animal health.

“These innovations, for example, could be a new diagnostic test, new vaccines or new ways of protecting citizens,” he explained.

“In the coming years, we can evaluate new technologies, new ideas, new innovations that might have an impact on Canada but also other member countries of the alliance. ”

COVID-19 vaccine progress

Gerdts said his organization has shifted gears on the development of a COVID-19 vaccine that started during the height of the pandemic.

He said the lab is now focused on a vaccine for the next pandemic.

“We have developed a next-generation vaccine. A vaccine that not only protects against the current COVID variants that we see, but also protects against future coronaviruses,” Gerdts said.

“That’s what we call vaccines that are broadly protective – they don’t only protect against one virus, but families of viruses.”

Gerdts said the revamped vaccine is currently in clinical trials in both Canada and Africa.