Head and shoulders image of Dr. Chris Bigland, Professor and Head of Veterinary Microbiology and founding Director of VIDO.

Bio/Historical Note: Dr. Christopher Hedley Bigland was born in Calgary on 15 October 1919. He received his DVM from the University of Toronto in 1941. This was followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Public Health from the University of Toronto in 1946 and an MSc in physiology from the University of Alberta in 1960. Dr. Bigland became a member of the faculty of the University of Saskatchewan in 1964 with his appointment as Professor and Head of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology. In 1974 Dr. Bigland became the first Director of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) and remained in that post until his retirement in 1984. Dr. Bigland died in Saskatoon in 2005 at age 86.

R.W. Begg, University President, speaks from podium during the opening of the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO). Dignitaries seated are (l to r): M. Moore; Herman Rolfes, Saskatchewan Minister of Continuing Education; and Dr. Chris Bigland, director of VIDO.

Bio/Historical Note: The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) is a research organization of the University of Saskatchewan that operates with financial support from the Government of Canada, the government of Saskatchewan, livestock industry councils and agencies, foundations and human and animal health companies. VIDO worked to find cures for common infectious diseases in cattle, swine and poultry. VIDO scientists carved out an international reputation for their pioneering work in the 1980's on vaccines aimed at combating shipping fever and a disease which produces pneumonia and arthritis in cattle. In addition to the 2,500,000 sq ft facility on campus, VIDO-InterVac also operates a 160-acre research station. The laboratory took on its current name, International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), in March 2003. In October 2003 a large expansion was completed. In March 2004, VIDO received funding for the construction one of the world's largest and most advanced biosafety level 3 facilities, the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), for research into emerging and reemerging human and animal diseases. In 2020, VIDO-InterVac began developing a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Dr. Christopher H. Bigland, dean, Western College of Veterinary Medicine, and Dr. George Khachatourians, professor, Department of Applied Microbiology & Food Science, are seated holding the American patent on bacterial mini-cells developed by the Veterinary Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO).

Touring the Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) facilities are (l to r): R.W. Begg, University President; Dr. Christopher H. Bigland, director of VIDO; and Allan Blakeney, Premier of Saskatchewan.

Bio/Historical Note: The Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization (VIDO) is a research organization of the University of Saskatchewan that operates with financial support from the Government of Canada, the government of Saskatchewan, livestock industry councils and agencies, foundations and human and animal health companies. VIDO worked to find cures for common infectious diseases in cattle, swine and poultry. VIDO scientists carved out an international reputation for their pioneering work in the 1980's on vaccines aimed at combating shipping fever and a disease which produces pneumonia and arthritis in cattle. In addition to the 2,500,000 sq ft facility on campus, VIDO-InterVac also operates a 160-acre research station. The laboratory took on its current name, International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-InterVac), in March 2003. In October 2003 a large expansion was completed. In March 2004, VIDO received funding for the construction one of the world's largest and most advanced biosafety level 3 facilities, the International Vaccine Centre (InterVac), for research into emerging and reemerging human and animal diseases. In 2020, VIDO-InterVac began developing a vaccine for SARS-CoV-2 during the COVID-19 pandemic.