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• International Research Advisory Council
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• Conflict of Interest Subcommittee
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The Institute

History

In May 2003, the discovery of a single BSE-infected cow in an Alberta herd devastated the province's beef industry overnight. Trade borders closed and Alberta's revenue from beef exports fell from $160 million per month to zero. Alberta beef farmers were hit hard as the price of beef dropped. Five thousand jobs were lost in farming-related sectors such as meat packing, food processing and transportation.

The Government of Alberta responded to the crisis in a number of ways. One was a $35 million investment to establish the Alberta Prion Research Institute. APRI's seven-year mission is to establish a world-class hub of research expertise that builds Alberta's capacity to meet the serious economic and social challenges posed by BSE and other prion-related diseases.

Mandate

The Alberta Prion Research Institute is committed to the prevention, mitigation and treatment of prion and protein misfolding diseases in animals and humans. APRI invests in fundamental and applied research that takes an interdisciplinary approach to solving the prion mystery. It supports projects that focus on innovation and invention.

APRI's funding support and commitment to excellence attracts world-class researchers to Alberta. APRI funds the laboratories and equipment they need for their investigations. And it supports their efforts to put science into practice through sound public policy, practical applications, surveillance measures, diagnostic tools and therapies that will save lives and save dollars.

APRI's immediate goal is to unfold the mysteries of prion behaviour, prevent and manage prion diseases, and address the economic, environmental, social and economic consequences of these diseases. While working to achieve that goal, APRI is building research capacity and expertise in Alberta.

Building and Growing: A New Strategic Plan

Since 2005, the Alberta Prion Research Institute has made remarkable progress in building a strong Alberta base for research on prion and protein misfolding diseases. It has made great strides in reaching the objectives set out in its founding documents.

Since its inception, APRI-supported programs have targeted the following three objectives:

• Developing the province's research capacity in the field of prion and protein misfolding diseases.
• Exploring BSE-related best practices for Alberta's beef industry.
• Providing sound scientific evidence to support the development of public policy.

In 2008-2009, as the institute approached the midpoint of its mandate, APRI's management board launched a review to assess progress and make the adjustments needed to respond to emerging research opportunities and changing needs and circumstances.

Starting in August 2008, APRI hosted extensive consultations, including two stakeholder focus groups, to identify where the need for research was most pressing and to seek input on how best to channel research investments. Researchers, producer groups, industry associations and representatives from the provincial and federal governments shared their ideas and opinions. Their feedback was incorporated into a new strategic plan for 2009-2012.

On January 1, 2010, APRI became part of Alberta Innovates - Bio Solutions, a corporation that is a key component of the Alberta Innovates framework and supports the growth and development of Alberta's agricultural, forestry and associated industries. 

BSE was the institute's top priority in 2005. Prion infectivity has since spread to other animals such as deer and elk, and is thought to be prevalent in other areas of the environment. Ongoing monitoring and proactive measures to restrict the spread of human and animal prion diseases are crucial. There is a growing need for effective risk management strategies and science-based public policy that reflects both the social and the economic impacts of prion diseases.