Experts at a special lab in Saskatoon are working to help develop a vaccine for the new Coronavirus.

University of Saskatchewan's Vaccine and Infectious Disease Organization has received permission from the Public Health Agency of Canada to start working on countering the threat.

Researchers hope to do the first round of testing on animals in six to eight weeks but a vaccine for humans will take at least a year.

The lab has previously made successful vaccines for strands of the virus linked to cows and pigs.

Theresa Tam, Canada's chief public health officer, says Canadian research is part of a global effort and will be shared with the World Health Organization.