ON CAMPUS NEWS news.usask.ca APRIL 10, 2020 Volume 27, Issue 8 RESEARCH THE WORLD NEEDS Researchers in the University of Saskatchewan’s (USask) Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization – International Vaccine Centre (VIDO- InterVac), one of the world’s most advanced infectious disease labs, are working to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 coronavirus. VIDO-InterVac recently received $28-million in funding from the Government of Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan to support efforts to combat emerging infectious diseases, including COVID-19, and to construct a pilot-scale vaccine manufacturing facility on campus. In this issue of On Campus News, we take a look at the increased funding for the research facility, and document the university’s unprecedented moves to protect the campus and the community. SEE PAGES 2-3 — 6 — — 8-9 — — 13 — HEALTH COLLABORATION IMAGES OF RESEARCH HUSKIE AWARDS Publication Mail Agreement #40065156 SEE XXXXX, PAGE XX $28M funding boost for On Campus News is published 12 times per year by University of Saskatchewan USask’s VIDO-InterVac Marketing and Communications. It is distributed to all USask faculty, staff, graduate students and members of USASK RESEARCH PROFILE AND IMPACT governing bodies, as well as to others in the university community, related The University of Saskatchewan’s to help address Canada’s shortage ting the COVID-19 pandemic will organizations, some Saskatchewan (USask) Vaccine and Infectious of vaccine manufacturing capacity help protect the health and safety government officials and news media. Disease Organization – Interna- and $11.3 million for continued of all Canadians, as well as people Subscriptions are available for $24 tional Vaccine Centre (VIDO-In- operational funding for the high around the world.” DEBRA MARSHALL per year. Story and photo ideas terVac) has received a major containment laboratories over the There is currently no vaccine are welcome. Advertising rates are available online or on request. $28-million funding boost in coming year. for COVID-19 coronavirus. Dr. Volker Gerdts (DVM) support of global efforts to combat “The Saskatchewan govern- VIDO-InterVac was the first - emerging infectious diseases ment and the federal government lab in the country to isolate the on campus to accelerate vaccine On Campus News aims to provide a including COVID-19. have worked together to provide COVID-19 virus and the first in development in Canada and abroad. forum for the sharing of timely news, The Government of Saskatch- this very significant boost to Canada to have a vaccine candidate “The $12 million enables us to information and opinions about ewan announced $3.6 million in our vaccine research efforts at in animal testing. The vaccine was build the facility to Good Manu- events and issues of interest to the USask community. new funding for COVID-19 vaccine this critical time, and we’re very made in February, and researchers facturing Practices standards as research on March 25 for VIDO-In- grateful for their combined invest- expect to know by the end of April required for human vaccine produc- The views and opinions expressed by writers of letters to the editor and terVac, one of the world’s most ment that will help fast track whether the vaccine works in an tion,” said VIDO-InterVac Director viewpoints do not necessarily reflect advanced infectious disease labs. vaccine development for emerging animal model. Clinical testing of Dr. Volker Gerdts (DVM). “We those of USask or On Campus News. The announcement came on infections including COVID-19,” this vaccine in humans could start expect to begin vaccine production - the heels of $23 million announced said USask Vice-President Research as early as this fall. in a little more than a year.” March 23 by the federal government Karen Chad. “This cutting-edge VIDO-InterVac is constructing We acknowledge we are on Treaty 6 SEE VIDO-INTERVAC, PAGE 12 Territory and the Homeland of the for VIDO-InterVac—$12 million work on the front lines of combat- a pilot-scale manufacturing facility Métis. We pay our respect to the First Nation and Métis ancestors of this place and reaffirm our relationship with one another. - IN CASE YOU MISSED IT EDITOR A lot happens at the USask during the weeks when On Campus News isn’t published. James Shewaga Here are a few of the top stories from news.usask.ca: WRITERS Katie Brickman-Young, Tim Cloutier, Jenna Fraser, Kylie Kelso, Kristen McEwen, Chris Morin, Chris Putnam, Health funding SHRF support Radiation research Quantum leap James Shewaga, Amanda Woroniuk. USask researchers have been award- Seven USask teams that engage pa- USask researchers have demon- A USask research centre dedicated DESIGNERS ed $5 million from the Canadian In- tients as partners in their research strated that it is possible to “train” to the study of new quantum mate- Brian Kachur stitutes of Health Research to create projects have received new Sprout microscopic black fungi in the lab rials has been named the latest Col- Pierre Wilkinson a network of Indigenous research Grants from the Saskatchewan to find radiation sources—a dis- laborative Research Group by the centres driven by and grounded in Health Research Foundation (SHRF) covery with potential applications Pacific Institute for the Mathemat- Indigenous communities. The new and the Saskatchewan Centre for Pa- such as cleaning up radioactive ical Sciences. The Centre for Quan- $100.8-million, 16-year national tient-Oriented Research. Dr. Marta waste from nuclear accidents and tum Topology and its Applications program—Network Environments Erlandson (PhD), Dr. Barbara Forns- detecting radioactive fallout from (quanTA), takes an interdisciplin- for Indigenous Health Research sler (PhD), Dr. Sharyle Fowler (MD), illicit nuclear testing. In a paper ary approach to the mathematics (NEIHR)—is led by USask’s Dr. Dr. Stephanie Madill (PhD), Dr. published in Fungal Biology, USask and physics of novel quantum ma- Carrie Bourassa (PhD), the scien- Megan O’Connell (PhD), Dr. James radiochemist Dr. Ekaterina Dada- terials. Funding through the award ISSN: 1195-7654 tific director of the CIHR Institute Stempien (MD) and Dr. Caroline chova (PhD) and her team confirm will total $200,000 over three years. PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065156 of Indigenous Peoples’ Health based Tait (PhD) will lead USask research that fungi exposed to irradiation Launched in 2019 at USask, quan- Return undeliverable addresses to: at USask. Dr. Caroline Tait (PhD), a projects ranging from mental health for a protracted period can sense TA’s research goals are inspired by UNIVERSITY OF SASKATCHEWAN USask medical anthropologist, will supports for farm families, to medic- subsequent high-dose radiation. the discovery of topological mate- MARKETING AND COMMUNICATIONS lead the Saskatchewan NEIHR net- inal cannabis use in treating inflam- Essentially the fungi eat the radia- rials, a group of quantum materials G16 THORVALDSON BUILDING work to foster health research with- matory bowel disease, to improving tion, possibly by converting it into a that drive major advances in con- 110 SCIENCE PLACE SASKATOON, SK S7N 5C9 in Indigenous communities. emergency care for opioid users. usable energy source. densed matter physics. Email: [email protected] FOR MORE UP-TO-THE-MINUTE NEWS, VISIT: news.usask.ca @usask 2 APRIL 10, 2020 SUBMITTED KURT HOFFMAN With most campus buildings closed, USask’s team of procurement professionals and various colleges have amassed much-needed medical supplies to provide to the Saskatchewan Health Authority. Protecting campus community from COVID-19 JAMES SHEWAGA From moving all classes and exams immense changes in a short amount In addition, university officials online, to temporarily closing facil- of time to ensure our operations postponed or cancelled all spring ities and buildings and postponing and processes keep our campus campus events and recreation Spring Convocation for the first community healthy and safe.” programming, and implemented time, the University of Saskatch- USask began informing the a mandatory work-from-home ewan (USask) is taking unprece- campus community with corona- policy for the majority of employees dented steps to protect the campus virus updates and prevention guide- on March 23, after the provincial community and beyond from coro- lines back in late January, adding government declared a State of navirus. travel advisories and self-isolation Emergency. All campus buildings Working in accordance with protocols in February and cancel- were closed on March 24, with provincial and federal health ling all university-related travel in access limited to those employees guidelines, the university insti- early March. deemed critical to maintain core tuted a number of major changes In response to the growing operations of the university. throughout the month of March and pandemic, university officials On March 25, changes were into April to protect the health and also quickly moved to implement also made to allow for proper social safety of students, staff and faculty, further unprecedented protective distancing for those who need to University Hospital on campus Merlis Belsher Place. This is the first and help flatten the curve to slow the measures—in consultation with remain in a University of Saskatch- remains open to patients but not time that the spring ceremonies will rapid spread of COVID-19. health experts and government ewan residence. All students who visitors, while the Veterinary not be held, since the university’s “In the face of this complex officials, as well as campus colleagues were able to safely return home and Medical Centre at USask is open for first graduation class was celebrated situation, our campus community and other post-secondary institu- do not have special circumstances emergency cases. back in 1912. However, graduating has responded with resilience, with tions. USask closed the campus to that may warrant an exception, were In another necessary move, the students will still receive their leadership, and with courage,” visitors and suspended all in-person required to move out of residence.