Better methods of protecting calves from respiratory and intestinal diseases could be just around the corner.
That’s one of the tangible benefits farmers can expect from a $27 million expansion at the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization.
“Within the next year or two years, you’ll see that our vaccine development will start to change,” said Philip Griebel, who is heading VIDO’s new national genomics project.
On Jan. 20, Western Economic Diversification announced $1.14 million for the new lab, bringing the federal government’s contribution to $24.3 million. The latest funding should complete the new expansion, which opened in October 2003. The money will be used to buy microscopes, pH metres, centrifuges and a variety of other small pieces of equipment.
The new 4,500 sq. metre lab will serve 40 new scientists and technicians, who were recruited to study infections in the lungs and intestines of food-producing animals.
Griebel said they are trying to understand how farm animals respond to infectious agents so they can devise more effective vaccines to combat common diseases.
