Grants and Contributions

Improving access to testing is essential for controlling the spread of COVID-19 through enabling targeted public health measures and use of therapeutics and vaccines as they become available and delivered.

Hire specialized expertise for DNA vaccine platform development

Radio information campaign:
Informing and reducing misinformation about COVID-19 vaccines in the DRC

Response to covid19 pandemic through training of staff on case management, community sensitization on covid19 vaccines and procurement of infection prevention materials including personal protective equipment for staff at St Gabriels Hospital, Malawi

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

a. Accelerate the availability and use of high-quality and real-time evidence and/or solutions to support Canada’s ongoing response to the pandemic in order to better prevent, detect, treat and manage COVID-19; AND
b. Generate evidence related to one or more marginalized population(s), including for instance: Black and other communities marginalized by race; First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Peoples; communities historically excluded from research; those experiencing health inequity; persons with disabilities and individuals across diverse health status (e.g. high risk populations, individuals with comorbid conditions); those experiencing gendered impacts of the pandemic; and those in life stages that have been underrepresented in research (e.g. pregnant people, children, older adults). Across all populations, researchers are encouraged to consider a lifecycle approach (from preconception to older adulthood).

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

a. Accelerate the availability and use of high-quality and real-time evidence and/or solutions to support Canada’s ongoing response to the pandemic in order to better prevent, detect, treat and manage COVID-19; AND
b. Generate evidence related to one or more marginalized population(s), including for instance: Black and other communities marginalized by race; First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Peoples; communities historically excluded from research; those experiencing health inequity; persons with disabilities and individuals across diverse health status (e.g. high risk populations, individuals with comorbid conditions); those experiencing gendered impacts of the pandemic; and those in life stages that have been underrepresented in research (e.g. pregnant people, children, older adults). Across all populations, researchers are encouraged to consider a lifecycle approach (from preconception to older adulthood).

The specific objectives of this funding opportunity are:

a. Accelerate the availability and use of high-quality and real-time evidence and/or solutions to support Canada’s ongoing response to the pandemic in order to better prevent, detect, treat and manage COVID-19; AND
b. Generate evidence related to one or more marginalized population(s), including for instance: Black and other communities marginalized by race; First Nations, Inuit, Métis and Urban Indigenous Peoples; communities historically excluded from research; those experiencing health inequity; persons with disabilities and individuals across diverse health status (e.g. high risk populations, individuals with comorbid conditions); those experiencing gendered impacts of the pandemic; and those in life stages that have been underrepresented in research (e.g. pregnant people, children, older adults). Across all populations, researchers are encouraged to consider a lifecycle approach (from preconception to older adulthood).

Project activities include: (1) disseminating messages to in-school and out-of-school groups of adolescents on COVID-19, gender equality, gender roles and responsibilities, mental health, sexual and gender-based violence, and adolescent sexual and reproductive health and rights; (2) disseminating strategies and messages to community, traditional, and religious leaders to promote positive coping mechanisms and to engage them in adapting traditional practices such as greetings and burial and mourning ceremonies; (3) provide training and support to health workers and health facility staff on infection prevention and control, triage, management of COVID-19 cases, mental health and psychosocial support services, management of health-care waste, and management, referral and reporting of sexual and gender-based violence; (4) procure and distribute personal protective equipment and essential maternal, newborn and child health and sexual and reproductive health supplies and equipment, including family planning commodities, to health facilities, community health workers and support staff; and (5) provide training and support to community health committee members on gender-sensitive COVID-19 control and counselling related to safe practices and vaccine acceptance. The project is expected to reach 452,794 beneficiaries in the three target countries, including 250,642 girls and women of reproductive age and 202,152 men and adolescents.

Entos has developed Covigenix VAX-001, a DNA Proteo-Lipid Vehicle (PLV) vaccine intended for the prevention of COVID-19 infection by SARS-CoV-2. In this project, Entos will advance the VAX-001 vaccine candidate through Phase 2 clinical trials to establish its safety and immunogenicity in healthy adults.

This project will provide vital vaccines and therapies to Canadians by constructing a state-of-the-art biomanufacturing facility to close an existing gap in domestic production. The project will increase mRNA and pDNA vaccine production as well as establish capabilities to fill-and-finish vaccines.