PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness

The Canadian Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness:
Protecting Canada by Building on Excellence in Pandemic Preparedness

Background

The PRAIRIE Hub for Pandemic Preparedness is one of five national pandemic preparedness hubs created in 2023 through Stage 1 of the integrated Canadian Biomedical Research Fund (CBRF) and Biosciences Research Infrastructure Fund (BRIF) competition.

The PRAIRIE Hub is led by the University of Alberta, and includes the University of Manitoba, Calgary, Saskatchewan/VIDO as major partners and many other partners across multiple sectors in the Hub region.

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Mandate

The Pandemic Preparedness Hubs are mandated:

  1. To oversee a major CBRF Stage 2 pandemic preparedness funding initiative in 2023, and
  2. To serve as connective ecosystems—disseminating information about funding opportunities to members and promoting communication, coordination, training, and community engagement.

Each Hub is guided by CBRF strategic objectives and Canada’s Biomanufacturing and Life Sciences Strategy (BLSS), with particular focus on building a strong biomanufacturing and life sciences sector in Canada. 

The Hubs themselves do not provide a direct source of funding. They serve to raise awareness and connect stakeholders to relevant funding opportunities.

Vision

The PRAIRIE Hub strives for a healthier world by bolstering biomanufacturing in Canada, with initiatives driven by innovation, collaboration, community engagement, and a shared commitment to the One Health approach.

We envision a strong Canadian health sciences research and biomanufacturing sector capable of coordinated, rapid, effective, and inclusive responses that safeguard the health of every Canadian from emerging pandemic threats.

What is the One Health Approach?

One Health is an integrated, unifying approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems.

It recognizes that the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent.

While health, food, water, energy and environment are all wider topics with sector-specific concerns, the collaboration across sectors and disciplines contributes to protect health, address health challenges such as the emergence of infectious diseases, antimicrobial resistance, and food safety and promote the health and integrity of our ecosystems.

The One Health Approach focuses on zoonotic pathogens – ones that cause disease in both animals and humans. These pathogens represent the most likely origin of the next pandemic threat and the PRAIRIE Hub has a strong and unique foundation of knowledge, expertise, and resources geared towards responding to these threats.

Mission

Our mission is to serve as a connective ecosystem for Canada's academic, industry, non-profit, and health resources—forging meaningful partnerships that build robust biomanufacturing solutions—sustainable in interpandemic times, and ready to deploy in response to newly emerging threats.

Furthermore, it is our mission to foster initiatives and responses that take into consideration the health disparities of systemically excluded groups in the PRAIRIE Hub region and beyond. 

 

Research pillars

  1. Development of vaccines
  2. Development of small-molecule antivirals
  3. Development of diagnostics/surveillance
  4. Enhancing GMP biomanufacturing
  5. Training programs focused on talent development for pandemic preparedness

Strategic objectives

  • Increase specialized biomanufacturing infrastructure and capacity for multidisciplinary, applied research.
  • Support biomanufacturing training and development, to expand the pipeline of skilled research and talent.
  • Accelerate the translation of promising research into commercially viable products and processes.