New $44M Pathogen Research Centre Aims to Combat Future Viral Threats

Researchers at Western University are launching a new initiative to improve understanding and prevention of viral diseases, driven by insights gained from the COVID-19 pandemic. The university has begun construction on a $44 million Pathogen Research Centre, which aims to enhance scientific predictions related to virus transmission and control.

This new centre, located in the Western Research Park off Windemere Road, will feature two key facilities. The first is a Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility designed to manufacture products for clinical trials involving human participants. The second, a pioneering microbial transmission facility, will allow scientists to study how viruses, including influenza and COVID-19, spread through the air in real-world environments.

Eric Arts, a professor at Schulich Medicine & Dentistry and Canada Research Chair in HIV Pathogenesis and Viral Control, emphasized the necessity of understanding viral behaviors beyond current models. “We found during the pandemic that many assumptions, such as the three-metre rule for protection, were based on unverified models,” he stated. Arts explained that the new facility will enable researchers to investigate virus transmission more accurately by releasing viruses into controlled environments with mannequins that simulate human breathing.

The microbial transmission facility is expected to work in collaboration with industry partners to develop strategies for mitigating virus spread. “We will evaluate various air filtration and UV systems, which were used during the pandemic but on a limited scale,” Arts added. This facility represents a significant advancement in scientific infrastructure, as it is the first of its kind globally.

The Pathogen Research Centre will complement Western University’s existing ImPaKT facility, which focuses on understanding how diseases behave inside the human body. According to Rick Gibson, the Operations Director of ImPaKT, this centre aims to foster local solutions for complex health challenges. “It is costly to send samples overseas for analysis, so we are focused on developing affordable solutions here,” Gibson noted.

The economic impact of the new research centre is expected to be substantial, positioning London as a prominent medical research hub. Gibson forecasts that the centre will attract millions of dollars in investment from the medical industry within its first years of operation. “We anticipate bringing significant industry to London almost immediately,” he explained.

The Pathogen Research Centre is scheduled to open in 2027, marking a critical investment in public health research and the potential for groundbreaking advancements in virus prevention and control. Through this initiative, Western University aims to build a more robust response to emerging health threats, contributing to a safer future for communities worldwide.