On Mar. 20, 2018, in response to the Ebola outbreak that claimed more than 10,000 lives in West Africa in 2014, Canada and China announced a joint project to develop an Ebola vaccine. Created by the Chinese Academy of Military Medical Sciences’ Bioengineering Institute and CanSino Biologics, the vaccine was approved by Chinese regulators and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) developed the manufacturing process.

The vaccine is made from living cells engineered by the National Research Council. Named HEK 293, these cells are grown inside stainless steel tanks and require special conditions and nutrients to thrive. Experts reproduced a variety of tests to successfully transfer a process for the production of this vaccine in a manufacturing facility. Should another Ebola outbreak occur, the vaccine would be ready to be deployed.

In addition to its work on this Ebola vaccine, the National Research Council has also developed and licensed the cells and processes to manufacture a vaccine that prevents transmission of a virus that causes birth defects from mothers to their babies, an anti-cancer treatment, as well an anti-Alzheimer’s treatment, all of which are currently in or destined for clinical trials.