Researchers across the United Kingdom will collaborate with international experts on critical health risks, from preparing for future disease outbreaks to developing novel mRNA vaccines for livestock and combating the escalating challenge of antimicrobial resistance (AMR).
The scale of these threats is significant. Globally, approximately one in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections were resistant to antibiotics in 2023. In the UK, ash dieback alone is estimated to incur costs of around £15 billion. Furthermore, mosquito-borne diseases like dengue, Zika, and chikungunya have resulted in global costs of at least $94.7 billion between 1975 and 2020.
This substantial public investment, coordinated by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), is co-funded by key government departments including the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). The programmes are designed to bolster the UK's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to biological threats affecting people, wildlife, and ecosystems.
Adopting a 'One Health' approach, researchers will integrate knowledge from human, animal, and environmental health, drawing on diverse disciplines to address complex global challenges. These initiatives aim to build resilience against emerging biosecurity threats, strengthen prevention and response capabilities, enhance food security, and support sustainable economic growth.
Professor Anne Ferguson-Smith, UKRI Executive Champion for Tackling Infections, highlighted the investment's role in delivering government priorities and the commitment to vital One Health research. She stated, "By pooling expertise from across the research and innovation ecosystem in the UK and globally, we can tackle related infectious disease challenges in a more coordinated way to get ahead of emerging biological threats and help protect people, animals, plants and the environment, both in the UK and internationally."
UK Chief Veterinary Officer, Christine Middlemiss, emphasised the importance of this research for national biosecurity and preparedness. She noted, "Investing in cutting-edge research across animal, plant and human health is vital to strengthening our national biosecurity, ensuring we are prepared for future disease threats and able to respond rapidly when they emerge."
The funded projects span several key areas. For instance, research led by Professor Kavita Vedhara at Cardiff University will investigate the interplay between human behaviour, social settings, and public trust in disease emergence and spread. Separately, Professor Laura Kelly from Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, will focus on enhancing the resilience of UK forests and landscapes against tree disease epidemics like ash dieback.
Further projects include developing AI-driven vaccine antigens for animal and zoonotic pathogens by Professor Jonathan Heeney at the University of Cambridge, and creating next-generation mRNA vaccine platforms for animal health by Professor Simon Graham at The Pirbright Institute. Several initiatives will also target AMR across food, farming, and environmental systems, focusing on reducing inappropriate antibiotic use and improving antimicrobial stewardship.
