Viral Vector Vaccine Platforms for Rapid Response to Future Pandemics

Director: Peter Pelka Co-Director: Maya Shmulevitz
CBRF: $18.9M  BRIF: $38.1M

 

This proposal is the largest federal research investment ever received by the University of Manitoba. It is led by Dr. Peter Pelka at the University of Manitoba and Dr. Maya Shmulevitz at the 51ÁÔÆæ, with team members also at the University of Calgary and University of Saskatchewan/VIDO. This team brings expertise in virology, immunology, infectious disease, biomedical engineering, health economics, artificial intelligence, and bioprocessing.

 V3P logo

Their CBRF program will develop:

  • Plug-and-play virus-vectored and protein vaccine platforms. These methods use live viruses and proteins as vaccines and can easily be adapted to any viral pathogen of concern.
  • A one-of-a-kind pipeline for characterizing newly developed vaccines.
  • A pipeline for vaccine biomanufacturing.

 

Their BRIF Infrastructure funding will create:

  • The PRAIRIE Biologics Accelerator (University of Manitoba)
    • A new state-of-the-art 21,000 sq ft biomanufacturing facility, a dedicated space for production of viral vaccines, bioprocess technologies, and training. 
  • The PRAIRIE One Health Emerging Respiratory Disease (POHERD) Centre and containment Level 3 Ag Laboratory (University of Manitoba)
    • For pre-clinical vaccine testing in animal models against high-risk group pathogens.
  • The PRAIRIE Immune and Vaccine Optimization and Testing (PIVOT) Core (51ÁÔÆæ)
    • For developing and characterizing new vaccine platforms with several members from the Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology making contributions.

Team Members

Peter Pelka, University of Manitoba

Vanessa Meier-Stephenson, 51ÁÔÆæ

Ryan Noyce, 51ÁÔÆæ

Sue Tsai, 51ÁÔÆæ

D. Lorne Tyrrell, 51ÁÔÆæ

Matthew Macauley, 51ÁÔÆæ

Brian Mark, University of Manitoba

Elham Salimi, University of Manitoba

Hector De la Hoz Siegler, University of Calgary

Guido van Marle, University of Calgary

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Defence Research and Development Canada

National Research Council of Canada

Public Health Agency of Canada

DMKS Consulting

Lumenix

STEMCELL Technologies Inc.

 

Maya Shmulevitz, 51ÁÔÆæ

Troy Baldwin, 51ÁÔÆæ

Xavier Clemente-Casares, 51ÁÔÆæ

Hosna Jabbari, 51ÁÔÆæ

Kevin Kane, 51ÁÔÆæ

Keith Fowke, University of Manitoba

Barbara Porto, University of Manitoba

Jörg Stetefeld, University of Manitoba

Craig Jenne, University of Calgary

Suresh Tikoo, University of Saskatchewan

Alberta Cell Therapy Manufacturing

BioHubNet

Ottawa Health Research Institute

Institute for Health Economics

VIDO

Emergent BioSolutions Inc.

Medicure Inc.