Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology

Researchers at the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, located at the University of Alberta in Edmonton, AB, tackle some of the world’s most threatening viruses on a daily basis.

Their work into viral diseases such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C has earned the Institute international acclaim, and has established Alberta as a powerhouse for virology research.

The Li Ka Shing Institute emerged three years ago from a confl uence of major funding. This included donations of $25 million from the Li Ka Shing (Canada) Foundation and $52.5 million from the Government of Alberta, as well as federal and provincial funding in the form of a Knowledge Infrastructure Program grant, two large infrastructure awards, and an investment from GlaxoSmithKline Inc.

The infrastructure awards, grants from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, allowed for top-notch equipment to be installed in the facility.

With this infrastructure in place, Alberta’s virologists and immunologists had a physical space to bring their community together for discovery-based research. The Institute was also able to incorporate researchers from the Alberta Institute for Viral Immunology, the Centre of Excellence for Viral Hepatitis Research and several departments in the Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry.

“There had been a good core of virologists here,” says Dr. Lorne Tyrrell, Director of the Li Ka Shing Institute. “But before Mr. Li’s gift, they often worked as individuals. Now, I see more and more teamwork, and people thinking about the possibility of translating and commercialization.”

With over 40 years of experience in virology, Dr. Tyrrell is someone who understands the importance of being able to bring a product to commercialization. His work in the 1980s led to the development and use of lamivudine (3TC) as a treatment for hepatitis B infections. With two other colleagues (Dr. N. Kneteman and Dr. D. Mercer), he developed the KMT mouse, a transgenic mouse model with a humanized liver that can be infected with hepatitis B, hepatitis C or malaria for drug testing and development.

As one of Canada’s most signifi cant contributors to virology research, he is an authority on the global impact viruses have, especially when they become epidemics. One such example is infl uenza: “We’ve seen the epidemics of infl uenza as they become worldwide pandemics. There are strains of infl uenza that continue to worry us if they become easily transmissible, as they have much higher mortality rates and that could have huge impact on the world.”

At the Li Ka Shing Institute, researchers take a broader approach to working on viruses. Not only do they look at how a virus works, they also look at the immune system’s response to the virus and how the virus might be controlled.

“We have to have research programs on viruses and be prepared always to fi nd ways to a) discover new viruses that are causing disease and b) fi nd new ways to control viruses that can spread rapidly around the world,” explains Dr. Tyrrell. Prime examples are HIV-AIDS discovered in the early ‘80s and hepatitis C virus in the late ‘80s.

Their goal is to produce treatments that can be commercialized and brought forward to benefi t the public, a meaningful if sometimes slow endeavor. The Institute is also focused on designing drugs for viruses in areas of unmet medical needs.

“We fi led eight patents last year in different areas and we’re working on how we bring those forward for commercialization,” says Dr. Tyrrell. Dr. Tyrrell in the lab with students. Photo: Karin Fodor Professional Photography.

L to R: Dr. Lorne Tyrrell and Dr. Michael Houghton at the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology. Photo: Karin Fodor Professional Photography.

Currently, some of the main research projects include developing a vaccine for hepatitis C, as well as a hepatitis B therapeutic vaccine. Some of the viruses that the Institute’s researchers work on include hepatitis B, hepatitis C, West Nile Virus and infl uenza, as well as pox and herpes viruses.

In addition, the Li Ka Shing Institute has become a beacon for Alberta’s life sciences sector, attracting internationally-recognized researchers to the province. It boasts an A-team of highly-qualifi ed personnel from across the globe.

One such researcher is Dr. Michael Houghton, who was part of a team that made one of the most signifi cant biomedical discoveries in the past 30 years: the identifi cation of the hepatitis C virus. The discovery dramatically improved the safety of blood transfusions worldwide and paved the way for future advances in treating this viral disease.

Now at the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology, he continues his research. Earlier this year, he made signifi cant progress towards a potential vaccine for hepatitis C. Recruiting Dr. Houghton, through the Canada Excellence Research Chair program, was a major coup for the Institute, says Dr. Tyrrell.

“This was a program designed by the federal government to try to bring super stars to facilitate an area where Canada was very good, to make it excellent or world-class,” explains Dr. Tyrrell. “This is exactly what happened with the recruitment of Michael Houghton. He is recognized internationally as one of the very best leaders in viral hepatitis research, and that has brought tremendous profi le to the Institute.”

Being able to attract highly-acclaimed researchers and students has helped re-spark Alberta’s life sciences. The allure of working at a world-class facility is bringing students from all around the world. The Institute is also collaborating with other institutions internationally, as viral research is in essence a global activity. “I think that it’s been very important that we recognize from the very beginning that working together on viral illnesses with other major sites that are working on viruses would be an advantage,” says Dr. Tyrrell. “Viruses are international. I’ve been in the practice of infectious disease a long time, about 40 years, and what I do today is totally different to what I was trained to do 40 years ago, because of the new viruses and new diseases that have been discovered over the last 40 years.”

The Institute has formed international collaborations with leading institutions in China, Germany and the U.S., as well as national collaborations with the University of Calgary, University of Toronto, Memorial University, and UBC.

In the future, as the Li Ka Shing Institute continues to attract high-quality personnel to the province, Dr. Tyrrell has high hopes for Alberta’s biotech sector.

“My vision is that the Institute will be a model of diversifi cation of Alberta’s economy. I really want to see the Li Ka Shing Institute successfully translate and commercialize some products. I think that would help build the biotech industry here.”

To see this story online visit http://biotechnologyfocus. ca/?p=7373

Gowlings scores in life sciences

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For more than 20 years, Brian has focused his practice on patent prosecution and strategic patent portfolio counseling in the areas of molecular biology, biochemistry, chemistry, chemical engineering and medical devices. An inventor himself, Brian also advises clients on inventions and designs in industries including technology, biotechnology, and oil and gas.

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