University of Alberta team ready to begin Phase 1 of COVID-1University of Alberta team ready to begin Phase 1 of COVID-19 vaccine testing Oncologist John Lewis and his team with Entos Pharmaceuticals at the University of Alberta have been working overtime to develop one of Canadas leading vaccine candidates. Dr. Lewis said the early results are promising so clinical trials will begin in the next few weeks and if it proves safe, a vaccine could be ready for distribution in early 2021.