The Centre for Veterinary Vaccine Innovation and Manufacturing (CVIM)

A joint initiative between the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation will see the creation of a new centre at The Pirbright Institute designed to accelerate the development of animal vaccines to combat emerging and urgent infectious diseases. The consequences of livestock disease can be catastrophic. As well as posing a very real risk to global food security and international trade, livestock disease also presents a significant threat to global human health due to its pandemic potential. While the UK remains a world-leader in the early-stage development of vaccines for both human and veterinary medicine, globally we need to strengthen our collective capacity to translate scientific discoveries into solutions for the most challenging veterinary infectious diseases. The new Centre for Veterinary Vaccine Innovation and Manufacturing (CVIM) will bridge the gaps between research and expertise in process development and manufacturing while strengthening the UK's own emergency response capacity and capability. It will bring about tangible health and economic benefits by focusing on diseases prevalent in low- and middle-income countries.