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By Chris Brown

Virology institute at U of A

Provincial government invests $20M for vaccine development and disease research

Apr 8, 2021 | 1:22 PM

EDMONTON – The Alberta government is giving $20 million in funding to a virology research institute at the University of Alberta.

The Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute (AVI) at the University of Alberta will receive $20 million in funding over four years.

Government says the funding will accelerate research and development of pharmaceutical and vaccine treatments and build on Alberta’s successes. As well, the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated more than ever the need for health research and domestic development of treatments for illnesses, says the government.

“Vaccine nationalism can never be allowed to threaten our ability to keep Albertans healthy,” says Doug Schweitzer, Minister of Jobs, Economy and Innovation. “This investment in the Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute increases our capacity to develop vaccines which is critical to our strategy to build out our pharmaceutical industry in Alberta. It will help keep Albertans healthy and diversify our economy.”

The AVI is a commercialization centre within the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology at the University of Alberta and supports the development of new vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics. Some therapies currently under development at the institute include a hepatitis C vaccine, human cytomegalovirus antivirals and therapeutics for Alzheimer’s disease.

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Quick Facts

• Alberta’s pharmaceutical and life sciences industry is the fourth largest in Canada, next to Ontario, Quebec and British Columbia.
• Alberta has more than 200 life sciences companies – 60 per cent of which are in the medical technology and devices, health biotechnology and pharmaceutical sectors.
• In 2019 alone, Alberta’s pharmaceutical and life sciences industry attracted $430 million in private capital investment, generated $824 million in revenue and supported more than 15,000 high-paying jobs.
• Worldwide revenues for the pharmaceutical and therapeutics sector reached $1.25 trillion in 2019 and are projected to grow to $1.5 trillion by 2023.
• The Li Ka Shing Applied Virology Institute was established at the University of Alberta in 2013.
• The institute is developing antiviral drugs and vaccines in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The funding will continue the institute’s mandate of commercializing research in life sciences and biotechnology in fields ranging from synthetic chemistry to virology and immunology.