Canadaに大規模ワクチン研究施設！

カナダ中央部にある Saskatoon という場所に、どうやら大規模ワクチン研究施設（International Vaccine Centre: InterVac）が建設されたようです！

Saskatoon という場所がどんなところなのか…？

* 私も分からないので（汗）、早速Googleってみました。
どうやら、場所は以下のところにあるようです。

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=saskatoon&hl=ja&ll=52.106505,-106.611328&spn=32.449038,86.572266&t=m&z=4&vpsrc=6


何か、「寒そう…」な所ですが…、ウイルス研究ではHOTなところのようです！




建設費などは合計140億円にも上るようで、University of Saskatchewanの敷地内にある「フットボール競技場2個分」の大規模研究施設のようです！（かなり大きいですね！）

VIDO: Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization
http://www.vido.org/



この研究所では、人間の病気に関するワクチンだけでなく、狂牛病（BSE）などの動物・家畜の病気に対するワクチンも研究の対象とするようで、例えばSARSなどの動物から人に感染する病気に対するワクチン研究も進めていくようです。

この研究所で進めている研究にはとてもユニークなものもあり、例えば…、

「ワクチン接種の方法を、従来の注射器を使ったものから、吸入式に変える」

そんな研究も行われているようです。

小さいころ、何度もワクチン接種をした思い出は誰にでもあると思いますが、この研究所で進められている研究の一つには、「生まれたばかりの子供にワクチン接種をする」ことをテーマとしている研究もあるようです。

HSV2の場合、出産時に新生児が感染してしまうケースもあるようですが、ひょっとしたら、将来、

「母体内にいる間にHSVワクチンを投与する」

なんてことも可能になるかもしれませんね！



The Canadian Press

http://www.ctv.ca/CTVNews/Health/20110916/saskatoon-vaccine-centre-110916/

Date: Friday Sep. 16, 2011 6:52 PM ET

SASKATOON — Cows will be under the microscope at a new state-of-the-art vaccine centre billed as the largest of its kind in North America.

The $140-million International Vaccine Centre (InterVac) at the University of Saskatchewan held its grand opening Friday. The complex, covering an area larger than two Canadian football fields, will research infectious diseases and vaccines to try to protect both human and animal health.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper said the Saskatoon-based InterVac is special because it's one of only a handful of labs of its kind in North America, one that is big enough to study larger animals.

"To put the technology into layman's terms, InterVac can put the cattle under the proverbial microscope in the most secure, airtight environment," said Harper.

Harper said the ability to test vaccines on livestock is critical to protecting the food supply.

"I want to emphasis this point, the stakes are enormous.

"One small outbreak of disease can destroy whole herds, it can ruin the lives of scores of ranchers and it can cost the taxpayers massive amounts of money. As Canadians we saw 18 cattle -- 18 cattle affected with BSE lead to industry losses of about $6.5 billion. That's why we're so determined to catch disease before disease catches us."

Centre director Dr. Andy Potter said the idea of the InterVac was conceived more than a decade ago, at a time when "containment level three diseases in this country were rare."

There was no SARS, for example.

Potter said no one knows what future diseases might be, but researchers have a pretty good idea. He said there's about an 80 per cent chance they're going to arise out of the animal population.

That's what makes the centre unique, he said.

"What this centre's going to do is develop strategies and technologies to protect Canadians against infectious diseases like SARS, pandemic influenza, West Nile virus and cattle producers, swine producers, etcetera as well against diseases of animals," said Potter.

"It's different because we focus on vaccines. Other centres focus on different things. For example, the national micro lab in Winnipeg is a phenomenal facility, but they don't have a vaccine focus. We do."

The work could reach beyond Canada's borders.

One researcher is looking at ways to make vaccines more effective so they can work in a single dose. Dr. Volker Gerdts is also developing ways that will allow vaccines to be inhaled instead of injected. He's working on whooping cough.

"What we're doing right now is, we're immunizing our children five times, at least in Canada, with a needle," said Gerdts.

"Now what we're hoping is to have a vaccine that can be given shortly after birth. It will be through an inhalation device so there is no needle so it's much better for the infant and it works after a single (dose). So you don't need to come back and get another immunization."

Gerdts said the findings will be particularly important for developing countries where young children still suffer from these infectious diseases and it can be hard to get them immunized multiple times.

It could take between five and 10 years before such a vaccine hits the market for the public.

The lab itself is expected to be certified by the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency this fall and start full operations next spring. Once it's certified, security will be at a high level and there will be limited access.