VaxSynergy — Unlocking Innovation in Vaccine Development through a Collaborative Ecosystem
As part of its Vaccine Technology Innovations program, Médicament Québec is supporting six collaborative research initiatives bringing together academia and industry partners. Discover Dr. Leclerc’s project focused on developing a platform to innovate therapeutic vaccines .
Despite recent progress in vaccine research and development, particularly highlighted during the pandemic, a critical need remains: an integrated platform to effectively support researchers and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the design and development of subunit vaccines and novel adjuvants, from laboratory discovery through to clinical applications.
The VaxSynergy initiative addresses this need by establishing a next-generation bioengineering and biomanufacturing platform that will bring together complementary expertise to create a unique collaborative ecosystem in Québec. This integrated platform will streamline discovery processes, reduce development delays, and accelerate the transition from scientific concepts to clinical proof of concept.
VaxSynergy is distinguished by its portfolio of novel adjuvants and the integration of an essential protein for conjugate vaccines. By combining these components with scalable production methods and artificial intelligence–driven approaches, the platform aims to enhance the efficacy, stability, and speed of vaccine development.
Expected outcomes include:
- Providing researchers and SMEs with access to integrated tools and services for vaccine design and testing;
- Optimizing antigen–adjuvant coupling and exploring alternative delivery methods such as nebulization;
- Generating regulatory-compliant documentation to facilitate clinical translation.
This activity brings together a broad multidisciplinary team:
Academic researchers:
- Denis Leclerc – Université Laval / CHU de Québec
- Steve Bourgault – UQAM
- Laurent Cappadocia – UQAM
- Jean-François Lemay – CNETE
- Philippe Tessier – Université Laval
Industrial and strategic partners:
- Glycovax Pharma Inc., platform for immunoconjugates and SLA adjuvants
- Courtois Foundation
- Fondation du CHU de Québec
- Strategic Cluster PROTEO
By providing Québec researchers with an integrated, collaborative infrastructure, VaxSynergy will drive vaccine innovation, reduce dependence on foreign technologies, and strengthen Québec’s capacity to respond rapidly to public health needs.
This activity is supported by the Government of Québec through Médicament Québec, which is investing $1.5M. An additional $0.8M is provided by industrial partners, for a total investment of $2.3M.
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