A coalition of UK government partners, coordinated through UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is investing more than £54 million into 18 new research and innovation projects. These projects aim to address pressing risks to human, animal, and plant health, with researchers working alongside international experts.
The initiatives will focus on areas such as improving preparedness for future disease outbreaks, developing mRNA vaccines for livestock, and tackling the increasing threat of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Co-funding partners include the Department for Environment, Food and and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, UKRI Executive Champion for Tackling Infections and Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council Executive Chair, stated that the investment reflects UKRI's role in delivering government priorities and its commitment to funding 'One Health' research. UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, highlighted the importance of this investment for strengthening national biosecurity and ensuring preparedness for future disease threats.
The projects are expected to generate new knowledge, tools, and technologies to enhance the UK's and international capacity to prevent and respond to future biological threats. This includes supporting earlier detection of emerging risks, providing better evidence for policy-making, and developing new approaches to reduce AMR.