Novartis will be financially supporting the fish health research chair at UPEI's Atlantic Veterinary College over five years. (Photo: Novartis/AVC)

Novartis gives USD 1.2 mln to university

CANADA
Friday, June 05, 2009, 00:50 (GMT + 9)

The Swiss pharmaceutical corporation Novartis is funding a research chair of fish health at the Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) of the University of Prince Edward Island (UPEI). The corporation will give UPEI CAD 1.3 million (USD 1.2 million) to cover the chair’s salary and part of the research over a period of five years.

The contract was signed by Novartis COO Folkert Kamphuis and AVC Dean Don Reynolds at PEI this week. The deal gives Novartis power to select the chair’s field of study, although UPEI will recruit the candidate.

The collaboration will help both parties: AVC will expand by adding a new field of study to its curricula, which will facilitate its ability to work toward innovative findings, and Novartis will use the partnership to accelerate its advancements in the burgeoning area of fish health as well.

“We are very excited for the opportunity to be a part of this advancement in fish health research,” said Kamphuis, The Guardian reports. “As always, Novartis

Dean Don Reynolds (Photo: AVC)

Animal Health is committed to supporting the aquaculture industry, which, according to the United Nations, provides a third of the world’s supply of fish products.”

The chair’s focus will be on boosting the college’s in-depth research of immunity, infection and pathology and health products development. As the aquaculture industry grows, there will be a mushrooming market and interest for fish health products to manage outbreaks of diseases such as ISA, or infectious salmon anaemia, as well as marine ecosystems and related topics.

"Our ultimate goal is to be the pre-eminent academic institution on a worldwide basis," Reynolds said, CBC News reports. “We thank Novartis today because with this relationship we see ourselves as one step closer to being the pre-eminent institution."

The agreement is expected to augment both the Novartis Animal Health/UPEI aquaculture research partnership and the corporation’s link to PEI.

Novartis Animal Health was the first group to create vaccines to counter ISA and other viruses. It also works to develop and sell health treatments for domestic and farm animals.

Related articles:

- First antiviral treatment for ISA developed
- ISA vaccine approved

By Natalia Real
editorial@fis.com
www.fis.com 

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