VIDO Director accepts new position at University of Alberta

Jan 18, 2007

Lorne Babiuk, director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO), has accepted the position of Vice-President Research at the University of Alberta. He will assume his new role this coming summer.

President Peter MacKinnon said the University of Saskatchewan wishes Dr. Babiuk well and acknowledges the significant contribution he has made to building VIDO into an internationally recognized operation.

"With the foundation that has been laid by Lorne, we will continue our progress in making the University of Saskatchewan a leader in vaccinology and infectious diseases," said MacKinnon. "Our commitment to VIDO and to the new International Vaccine Centre (InterVac) that will operate in conjunction with VIDO is unchanged. There will be no interruption in the already established programs and partnerships established with either organization."

MacKinnon added that a search will begin immediately to fill the leadership position at VIDO. He expects that person will be in place by mid-2007.

A Saskatchewan native, Babiuk earned a BSA in Soil Science from the U of S in 1967, an M.Sc. in Soil Science two years later, and a PhD in Microbiology in 1972. As a professor in the Department of Veterinary Microbiology at the Western College of Veterinary Medicine, Babiuk was awarded a Doctor of Science degree by the University, in recognition of his ground-breaking work in vaccine development.

(Reprinted from the University of Saskatchewan)