There is currently no vaccine for COVID-19 coronavirus. VIDO-InterVac is the first lab in the country to have a vaccine candidate in animal testing. The vaccine was made in February, and researchers expect to know in about four weeks whether the vaccine works in an animal model. Clinical testing of this vaccine in humans could start as early as this fall.

The Prime Minister says some of the research and development funding for COVID-19, announced Monday, will be going to the University of Saskatchewan.

Justin Trudeau says the federal government is investing $192 million dollars aimed at supporting the development and production of a COVID-19 vaccine.

“Our government will be signing an agreement with Vancouver based AbCellera to support their work on drugs to prevent and treat Covid-19. We are also working with Quebec City based Medicago for vaccine testing and production. At the same time we’re providing funding for the University of Saskatchewan’s Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization for development and clinical trials.”

The federal government says with $11 million in funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, VIDO-InterVac will be able to strengthen its existing expertise in coronavirus research and to help develop a vaccine for COVID-19. An additional $12 million from Western Economic Diversification’s Regional Economic Growth Through Innovation program will help VIDO-InterVac expand its bio-manufacturing capacity to support clinical trials.

Trudeau says once there are promising options for a vaccine, the country needs a place that will mass produce the treatments. That’s why Ottawa will also be investing in the National Research Council of Canada’s facility in Montreal to prepare for the rollout.