The work is still in the pre-clinical stage and their efforts are highlighting the University of Waterloo s dedication to fighting the pandemic. Just within a few days, things ramped up so dramatically, UW associate Prof. Roderick Slavcev said. Students and staff at the School of Pharmacy were already looking to develop a different type of vaccine to fight respiratory illness before the pandemic began. COVID-19 added fuel to their passion. Being part of a global urgency and trying to address a global crisis like this is a privilege, Slavcev said. A former student, who now runs a spin-off company in Toronto called Mediphage Bioceuticals, is also involved in the project.