The federal government is moving ahead with a $267-million medical countermeasures laboratory in Winnipeg aimed at helping Canada respond faster to future disease outbreaks.
Terry Duguid, MP for Winnipeg South, said the government has awarded a $10-million contract for the lab’s architecture and engineering work.
The facility is expected to be completed in 2033 and will help researchers develop vaccines, treatments and diagnostic tools before health threats become national emergencies.
The lab will be built next to Winnipeg’s existing National Microbiology Laboratory, which has played a key role in responding to outbreaks including SARS, H1N1, Ebola and COVID-19.
Officials say the new facility will fill a gap in Canada by allowing researchers to produce high-quality test vaccines and treatments that can be studied before being tested in clinical trials.
Dr. Keith Fowke, a University of Manitoba professor, said the facility could help universities and companies move new medical products from research into testing more quickly.
The federal government will own and operate the lab, while officials say there could also be opportunities to work with private partners.
Architecture49 Inc. has been awarded the design contract. The Winnipeg-based firm has worked on similar projects in Canada and the United States.
