Alberta and Li Ka Shing fund new virology institute

Hong Kong industrialist Li Ka Shing is contributing $25 million to establish the Li Ka Shing Institute of Virology at the Univ of Alberta, augmented by $52.5 million from the provincial government and Alberta Innovates. The institute will focus on developing and commercializing new drugs, vaccines and diagnostic tests to reduce the impact of viral infections on human health. Shing's donation is the largest in the U of A's history, made through the Li Ka Shing (Canada) Foundation. In 2007, Shing donated $25 million to found the Li Ka Shing Knowledge Institute in Toronto, one of seven pre-selected Centres of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (R$, October 29/07).