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What are the CBRF/BRIF Pandemic Funding Initiatives?

The PRAIRIE Hub was established with the goal of supporting the development of proposals for the CBRF Stage 2 funding call in 2023. The Hub coordinated teams from academia, industry, non-profit and government sectors to submit research, training, and infrastructure CBRF/BRIF Stage 2 grants covering areas of surveillance and diagnostics, vaccines, antivirals, infrastructure, and biomanufacturing training. 

 

Awarded CBRF/BRIF Stage 2 Programs

 

Viral vector vaccine platforms for rapid response to future pandemics

This program will develop plug-and-play virus-vectored vaccine platforms. These methods use live viruses as vaccines and can easily be adapted to any viral pathogen of concern. It will also develop a one-of-a-kind pipeline for characterizing newly developed vaccines and a pipeline for vaccine biomanufacturing. 

Developing self-amplifying (sa) RNA vaccines against pandemic virus threats

This program is focused on developing a type of mRNA vaccine, called a self-amplifying or saRNA vaccine. Funding will explore the possibilities this new technology promises, including lower doses, fewer side effects, stronger immunity, and faster production compared to previous mRNA and protein sub-unit vaccines. 

Innovative techniques and diagnostic tests for pandemic preparedness and health equity

This program aims to identify new molecular targets for emerging pathogens, establish rapid diagnostic tools using CRISPR, DNAzyme, and aptamer technologies, and create lateral flow tests with multiple lanes for different viral targets. These point-of-care and high-throughput diagnostic assays will offer rapid screening to help respond to outbreaks in a timely manner, inform public health interventions, define diagnostic and surveillance needs of marginalized populations, and contribute to the future development of vaccines and therapeutics.

Filling vials for pandemic preparedness

¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥ Cell Therapy Manufacturing (ACTM) is a contract development and manufacturing organization located in the Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Research Innovation at the ¾ÅÐãÖ±²¥. This state-of-the-art GMP cleanroom facility specializes in the production of clinical-grade biotherapeutics for early phase clinical trials. Through BRIF funding, ACTM is enhancing its aseptic fill/finish capabilities -- the final critical step in producing vaccines and other sterile therapies. ACTM is currently installing a fully robotic aseptic fill/finish system, significantly expanding its capacity to support pandemic response and broader biomanufacturing needs.