VIDO team awarded $445,000 from PrioNet Canada for BSE vaccine

May 6, 2008

PrioNet Canada today announced a total of $8 million in funding for 19 projects focusing on prion diseases such as BSE, or “mad cow” disease. Dr. Andrew Potter, VIDO/InterVac director, leads one of two teams based at the University of Saskatchewan that received funding.

Dr. Potter receives $445,000 towards the development of a BSE vaccine for cattle to ensure that Canadian herds are protected against the disease.

Not only would this vaccine provide the first preventative treatment against BSE, but also considerable cost savings to Canada as current BSE-testing regimes are expensive and cumbersome. This research could also lead to vaccines that will aid in the prevention of other prion diseases.