University of Victoria

University of Victoria
The University of Victoria (UVic) is located in Victoria, British Columbia on the southern tip of Vancouver Island. We are widely recognized for leadership in research, inspired teaching, community engagement and industry partnerships. UVic works with local, national and international innovators in research and development to maintain its standing at #1 in North America for Published Research Based on International Collaborations (Leiden rankings, 2011-2019). Researchers at UVic work to discover technologies that make a difference, making contributions to a wide range of fields from fuel cells to cancer cells to climate change and cultural change. We are small enough to be personable and agile, and big enough to make an impact on the world. We strive to make change through research excellence, and a diverse research portfolio for continued growth and further global prominence. UVic has an innovative spirit with a desire to see new ideas and discoveries come to life. 
Research Partnerships
The Research Partnerships office manages all commercialization and technology transfer activities for UVic. Our office builds relationships with external partners and supports the engaged research environment. We manage the innovation process via disclosure, evaluation and protection of intellectual property. We have filed 550+ patents, received 1100+ invention disclosures and launched 170+ start-up companies since our office’s inception in 1992. Industry-academic partnerships are the most valuable way industry can leverage UVic’s expertise. We welcome inquiries from companies interested in collaborating with UVic or from those wanting to learn more about our licensing opportunities.

<h1 id="background">Background</h1>
Vaccines against bacterial and viral diseases have played an important role in reducing infectious diseases in humans for decades. However, there is still a need to create innovative ways to optimize vaccine developed and immune responses within patients. Two pathogens of particular interest, that require vaccine development, are Campylobacter jejuni which infects live stalk and Fracisella tularensis which is consider a biological weapon. The ability to develop temperature‑sensitive vaccines (TS) is a route of development that needs to be further explore and optimized. TS vaccines can increase efficacy and safety of the vaccine and reduce storage, shipping, and production costs.
<h1 id="technology-overview">Technology Overview</h1>
Researchers at the University of Victoria (UVic) have substituted essential genes that deactivate at warm temperatures from pyschrophiles (cold-loving bacteria) and put them into mesophilic (moderate temperature-loving) pathogens to create stable, temperature-sensitive (TS) strains of bacterial pathogens. UVic researchers have shown that the strains can grow in cool sites of the body and do not disseminate to internal organs. The ability of these pathogens to grow in cool tissue near the body and not move to the warmer areas of the body (the core) makes this an excellent candidate for use as a temperature-sensitive pathogenic vaccine. These TS strains have been developed for Campylobacter jejuni and Fracisella tularensis to aid in vaccine development for these two disease causing pathogens.
<h1 id="benefits">Benefits</h1>
Method Benefits:
<ul>
<li>Tailor the vaccine to the temperature of the animal to be vaccinated.</li>
<li>Temperature‑sensitivity is extremely stable. </li>
<li>The live vaccine can grow at the site of inoculation, and does not spread to internal organs.</li>
<li>Mimics a natural infection and provides immune protection when challenged. </li>
<li>Method can be applied to a number of bacterial pathogens.</li>
</ul>
Product Benefits:
<ul>
<li>Increased efficacy and safety. </li>
<li>Reduces R&amp;D costs</li>
<li>Reduced production costs.</li>
<li>Reduced storage and shipping costs.</li>
</ul>
<h1 id="applications">Applications</h1>
Applications within the veterinary vaccine market:
<ul>
<li>Campylobacter jejuni vaccine for poultry.</li>
</ul>
Applications outside of veterinary vaccine market:
<ul>
<li>Applications for Salmonella outside of poultry. </li>
<li>Ability to target bacteria that is hard to manipulate. </li>
<li>Applications for Fracisella within the U.S. military.</li>
</ul>