Premier Brad Wall and University of Saskatchewan (U of S) President Peter MacKinnon officially opened the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac) at the Saskatoon campus Sept. 16.
InterVac is part of the U of S Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).
A Saskatchcewan government release said InterVac will develop vaccines to protect people and animals from the threat of emerging or persistent diseases such as avian influenza or tuberculosis. This new building will be one of the largest and most advanced Containment Level 3 facilities in the world for both human and large-animal infectious diseases.
The centre is expected to be operational in early 2012. The Government of Saskatchewan has committed more than $57 million to InterVac. Total cost of the centre is $140 million.
