“Human and animal health are linked,” says Andrew Potter, director and CEO of VIDO-InterVac. “The majority of emerging infectious diseases originate in animals and research and understanding of how these organisms cause disease will benefit society.”

“Today’s symposium is the first of a series of planned special symposia co-hosted by the Gairdner Foundation across the country to explore a broad spectrum of biomedical issues”, says John Dirks, president and scientific director with the Gairdner Foundation. “The symposium will explore the linkages between animal infections and human disease, an important economic and social issue to the people of Canada, and the world. It also ties in nicely to the construction of VIDO’s new International Vaccine Centre, a containment level 3 facility that will be fundamental to further exploring emerging infectious diseases.”

A panel of internationally renowned scientists including Albert Osterhaus from the University of Rotterdam, Dr. Greg Poland from the Mayo Clinic’s Vaccine Research Group, Lorne Babiuk and Michael Houghton from the University of Alberta and Dr. David Butler-Jones, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer, will discuss emerging viral and bacterial infections that cross between humans and animals, novel approaches for preventing prion diseases, advances in Hepatitis C research as well as ethical and social issues of vaccines.

The Gairdner Foundation has a proud history of recognizing the world’s most creative and accomplished biomedical scientists. This year, Dr. Calvin Stiller (a Saskatchewan native) who won the Wightman Award for outstanding leadership in medicine and medical science will address the symposium.

The Honorable Rob Norris, Minister of Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration for Saskatchewan, who will speak at a banquet Thursday evening, said “The government of Saskatchewan is very pleased to be able to support this conference at VIDO-InterVac in bringing together recognized experts from around the world who are at the cutting edge of research with significant impact for our province, our country and our world.”

The Honorable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Diversification will attend the Friday lunch that will mark the close of the symposium. “Our government believes science, technology and innovation are vital to stimulating productivity, competitiveness and growth,” said Yelich. “Our support for VIDO-InterVac will help create jobs of the future and will foster innovation and world-leading research.”

This event is open to the media. We ask that you please RSVP.

Gairdner International Vaccine Symposium - October 21-22, 2010

Radisson Hotel, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

About VIDO-InterVac:

Created in 1975, VIDO-InterVac has Containment Level 2 facilities that include virology, immunology, bacteriology and biochemistry labs and a 160-acre research station. The approaching completion of the Containment Level 3 InterVac facility will provide unique research and training opportunities for local and international scientists and students. A research organization of the University of Saskatchewan with operating support from provincial and federal governments as well as industry grants, VIDO-InterVac holds 80+ U.S. patents and has developed technology for eight commercial vaccines.

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To RSVP please contact:

Shirley Toms, Corporate Communications Manager
VIDO-InterVac
Office 306-966-7483 / Cell 306-717-3330
shirley.toms@usask.ca