Moderna credits mRNA technology for potentially shaving years off typical vaccine development times. First doses of the vaccine have been administered in a clinical trial.

The facility was funded by Western's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry and a significant grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation, according to a release.

A new vaccine against HIV, to be tested in a trial to be launched in South Africa Wednesday, could be "the final nail in the coffin" for the disease if it is successful, scientists say.