Consisency is first priority for new VIDO director

Source: Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food

Continuing an outstanding track record of research and development of new vaccines for both animal and human diseases is the goal of Dr. Andrew Potter, the newly appointed Director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) at the University of Saskatchewan.

Potter was appointed to replace Lorne Babiuk, who has accepted the position of Vice President of Research at the University of Alberta.

Dr. Potter has been a member of the VIDO team for 22 years.

“It’s certainly an honour to be chosen for the position,” he said. “It’s a bit of a change for me, but former director Lorne Babiuk really has established such a team culture that it makes for an easier transition.”

In announcing Potter’s appointment, U of S Vice President of Research Steven Franklin stated, “With the growing threat of emerging diseases in both animals and humans, the U of S is extremely fortunate to have someone of Dr. Potter’s calibre to lead VIDO, and soon InterVac, as these world-class labs assume an increasingly important role in the development of Canada’s national infectious disease-fighting strategies.”

InterVac is the new $100 million International Vaccine Centre now being built at the university.

In assuming the new position, Potter says he will be seeking to maintain the tradition of excellence at VIDO.

“I think all of us have bought into the vision for VIDO’s future and where we’ve been in the past, and I believe continuity is what it’s all about now,” Potter said. “In terms of the research we do, I think we’re on track, and with InterVac coming on stream three years down the road, we’re really building towards that.”

Potter is highly respected for his previous work on animal diseases. His research is said to have generated world-firsts in disease prevention, and more than 40 patents for animal vaccine developments and therapeutics. He was the first scientist to develop a licensed animal vaccine through the use of biotechnology.

Potter says the progress on animal diseases has been remarkable. “It’s the switch over to some of the chronic diseases that really excites us,” he said. “On BSE specifically, and some of the work on CWD (Chronic Wasting Disease), we have seen phenomenal progress over the last six to eight months.”

Recently, Potter has overseen new research on the application of genomics to the animal health field, as well as the forging of links between the animal and human infectious disease research communities to ensure that technologies common to both fields can be used.

The massive InterVac laboratory building is a bio-secure facility that will allow advanced study of some of humanity’s greatest disease threats, including pandemic influenza, West Nile Virus and tuberculosis.

“The funding for InterVac is all in place now,” Potter said. “We actually have our first employee, the bio-safety officer. We are looking at a ground-breaking in late June, with a scheduled completion date around January of 2010.”

In the meantime, Potter expresses confidence in the VIDO staff.

“VIDO is only as good as the people who work here, and we have just an incredible group of 142 people,” he stated.

For more information, contact:
Dr. Andrew Potter, Director
Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization
University of Saskatchewan
Phone: (306)966-7484
E-mail: andrew.potter@usask.ca
Website: www.vido.org