News
Preparing Today – Protected Tomorrow.
Viral diseases and outbreaks are ever evolving threats. To strengthen our preparedness against emerging viruses, The Government of Alberta, Ministry of Technology and Innovation, invested $55.1M in a research and training program at the University of Alberta. This led to the creation of SPP-ARC. SPP-ARC focuses on the development of vaccines and antivirals — supported by state-of-the-art infrastructure and research from discovery to manufacturing.
Mission
Prepare for Pandemics.
Establish capabilities to discover, develop and assess vaccines and antivirals.
Vision
Enable Rapid Responses.
Support clinical trials and the approval of effective medical countermeasures
Message from the Director
Welcome to SPP-ARC.
The development of effective vaccines and antiviral drugs requires ongoing, integrated research. At SPP-ARC, researchers across various disciplines are building a comprehensive research and training program with focus on medical countermeasures. It has been an exciting year, marked by several milestones that include the launch of The Alberta Cryo-EM Facility on October 8, 2025. This facility provides researchers with state-of- the-art infrastructure to obtain structures of biomolecules in higher throughput. Following Canada’s first reported case of severe illness caused by a highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5N1), SPP-ARC scientists have already produced structural models of important viral proteins. These workflows inform the design of vaccines and antiviral drugs at the critical interface of preparedness and rapid responses.
We are proud to announce our 4th “SPP-ARC Ignites Innovation” Conference at the Banff Centre for Arts & Creativity from December 10 – 12, 2026. We are inviting scientists from across Canada to share their latest research findings in the field of pandemic preparedness. SPP-ARC considers abstracts with focus on vaccines, antivirals, innovative technologies and critical infrastructure. Investigators and trainees are welcome to attend. This environment will again facilitate collaborative efforts and partnerships that are necessary for rapid responses in emergency situations.
If you are interested in learning more about SPP-ARC, we hope this site provides a good idea of what we are building and why it matters.
Matthias Götte
Professor and Director of SPP-ARC
University of Alberta
EVENTS
2026 Ignites Innovation Conference
Dec. 10 - 12
Viral Threats and Medical Countermeasures
Save the date! This annual event brings together researchers and trainees to share progress in the field of pandemic preparedness.
In the News
Recent Publications
See all publications »POLICY PAPERS
RE: Avian influenza and use of the H5N1 vaccine to prevent zoonotic infection in Canada
We consider that a multipronged approach to pandemic preparedness is warranted and should include access to antiviral drugs including baloxavir marboxil (Xofluza). Read more