The Center for Aquaculture Technologies (CAT) has finalized a deal with Elanco Animal Health Incorporated to acquire a 46,000 square foot aquatic animal research facility in Victoria, Prince Edward Island. The addition of the Victoria facility will triple the company’s Canadian footprint and expand the already best-in-class research services in Health and Nutrition, allowing the company to double the number of research trials conducted on an annual basis.
CAT chief executive officer, John Buchanan, said that “we are experiencing exciting growth in our aquaculture Health and Nutrition Research Services business and have immediate plans for use of the facility. Expanding our footprint will allow our team to meet the demands of the global aquaculture community on a larger scale. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to expand our offerings and add to our world-class team.”
Adding to the extensive experience of the existing Canadian team, Jason Cleaversmith has been hired as vice president of Health and Nutrition and general manager of Canadian operations. ”The Victoria site has a long history of setting the gold standard for pivotal regulatory trials and innovation, and CAT is fortunate to have been able to acquire this state-of-the-art facility, along with several staff who are well versed in operating in a quality centric, highly regulated environment. This is a timely and exciting addition to the CAT facility network,” said Cleaversmith.
With the addition of the new facility, the only other privately held Aquatic Animal Pathogen Containment level 3 (AQC3/BSL3) certified lab space in Canada, CAT will oversee the largest amount of AQC3 certified square footage in the world, enabling the company to scale its research activities involving domestic and imported aquatic animals, and aquatic animal pathogens.
The Victoria site will operate in addition to the CAT Research Aquarium and Labs in Souris, PEI and San Diego, California. The Government of Prince Edward Island will support the project with a repayable loan of $4 million from the PEI Century Fund. “The Center for Aquaculture Technologies provides vital research and development for the aquaculture industry in our province,” said Minister of Economic Growth, Tourism and Culture Matthew MacKay. “We are proud to support CAT’s expansion, that will keep jobs in the community.”
The CAT team specializes in collaborative and contract research services, working with clients worldwide to develop customized solutions to improve productivity, efficiency, and sustainability in the aquaculture industry. In addition to expertise in Fish Health and Nutrition, CAT’s skilled team of researchers in Canada, and the U.S., offers specialized and custom services in the fields of genotyping, diagnostics, breeding, genomics and molecular biology.
