On Monday, Justin Trudeau announced the latest round of funding towards the fight against COVID-19 in Canada.

Some of that money is coming to Saskatchewan, with 23.3 million being granted to the University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization - International Vaccine Centre (VIDO-Intervac)

In an announcement from Premier Scott Moe during Monday's daily press briefing, he said that the lab, which is the first in Canada to have a COVID-19 vaccine ready for the animal testing phase, will see the money put towards expanding their ability to do so.

"(It's) a critical investment into research that is occurring right here in Saskatchewan. That will support that research and allow the lab to expand its bio-manufacturing capacity to support clinical trials."

$11.3 million will reportedly go towards operational funding, while the remaining $12 million will enable VIDO-Intervac to expand its facilities to the proper standards required for eventual human testing.

"This vaccine was made in February, and researchers expect to know in about four weeks whether that vaccine works in animal models."

Human trials would take significantly longer, with researchers stating that those could begin as early as the fall.

Swift Current Online will have a full look inside VIDO-Intervac and an interview with its Director and CEO, Volker Gerdts, in the coming days.