Inside the Montreal lab working to prepare Canada against future pandemics

Inside a biomedicine laboratory at Polytechnique Montréal, researchers grow animal protein in a bubbling orange solution while examining antibodies produced by cells under computer monitors. Down the hall, a large cryogenic freezer holds samples of proteins and cells for vaccine and medicine development. This lab is part of a federal initiative called Ramp Up, collaborating with research institutions across Canada to address gaps in biomanufacturing.

Head researcher Gregory De Crescenzo emphasizes the importance of preparation, stating that "it's not a matter of if, but when" a future pandemic will occur.

De Crescenzo hopes public tours of the lab can help rebuild trust in medicine amid vaccine misinformation. Ramp Up aims to fast-track vaccine and biomedical processes while training students. The lab works with viruses like influenza and bird flu, but their research can be applied to various diseases. The supply chain is a major challenge, as Canada lacked the capacity to produce vaccines on a large scale and imports were limited.

Students and researchers use commercial lab equipment, including tubes for cell growth and industrial freezers for long-term preservation.

The lab's role is likened to creating recipes, with processes carefully normalized, verified, and transferred to industries. While De Crescenzo believes Canada has made significant progress since COVID-19, he acknowledges the need for further scaling of processes. Infectious disease specialist Isaac Bogoch stresses the importance of a coordinated, multi-sector approach to pandemic preparedness, noting that it requires collaboration between government, academia, and industry.

Health Canada has invested $712 million in upgrading biocontainment facilities and creating research hubs, with the goal of having over 15,000 highly skilled workers in the field by 2029. The government aims to release a new emergency response plan in 2027 to ensure better coordination among different levels of government, international partners, and Indigenous communities.