Atlantic Veterinary College opens $20M research complex

Charlottetown, PEI – The Atlantic Veterinary College at the University of Prince Edward Island has officially opened a state-of-art $20-million Research Complex.

The new 5,300 sq m facility will house a number of the Atlantic Veterinary College’s specialized research centres including the Atlantic Centre for Bioactive Valuation, the Atlantic Centre for Comparative Biomedical Research, and the Atlantic Veterinary College’s Lobster Science Centre. The research complex will provide an additional 1,100 sq m of research labs and space for an additional 30 graduate students. It will also include a specific pathogen free holding facility – a $3-million research space built to the specifications of a level 3 containment facility.

“[The] opening propels the Atlantic Veterinary College and the entire Atlantic region forward in our ability to contribute to advances in animal health, human health, and comparative biomedical research,” said Dr Tim Ogilvie, dean of the Atlantic Veterinary College. “We have the talent and the expertise to make significant contributions to society. We applaud our partners in recognizing our enormous potential and investing in the infrastructure needed to support our commitment to discovery and innovation.”

The development of the Atlantic Veterinary College’s new research facility is part of an overall $45 million infrastructure project driven by a dramatic increase in demand for the College’s research and service expertise. Approximately $18 million in infrastructure funding was provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Additional funding for the Atlantic Veterinary College’s infrastructure project was provided by the Government of Prince Edward Island, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, the Canada Foundation for Innovation, and private partners.