December 21, 2023

 

Roslin Institute-based initiative receives funding for research towards veterinary vaccines

 

 

An initiative led by the Roslin Institute to advance vaccine development for livestock and zoonotic diseases is being supported with a funding award.

 

The International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN), based at the Roslin Institute in partnership with the Pirbright Institute, has received a £1.2 million (US$1.5 million) grant from the Medical Research Council (MRC) to continue its activities to support global veterinary vaccinology research. 

 

The funding is sourced from the UK government's International Science Partnerships Fund (ISPF). 

 

IVVN has developed into a global community comprising more than 1,900 scientists and industry partners from 93 countries since its formation in 2007.

 

The initiative facilitates networking, providing funding for veterinary vaccine research, supporting early career researchers and being a central hub for the international veterinary vaccinology community.

 

IVVN is one of five Global Vaccine Networks that collectively form a collaborative platform for researchers from the United Kingodm and around the world, particularly from low- and middle-income countries, to share knowledge and expertise, contributing to the development of new or enhanced vaccines. 

 

The funding ensures the continuity of IVVN's activities and strengthens its commitment to fostering collaboration between human and veterinary vaccine research communities. It will enable IVVN to provide funding for scientific collaboration, offer valuable training opportunities and continue inspiring and engaging the next generation of scientists.   

 

"We are delighted to have been awarded funding to continue our activities to support veterinary vaccinologists across the world," said Dr. Timothy Connelley,

network director of IVVN. "With this funding, we will continue efforts to bring the human and veterinary vaccine research communities together, support scientific collaboration by providing pump-priming funding, provide training for early career researchers and expand our schools outreach programme to inspire the next generation of scientists."

 

The UK's research and innovation system thrives through international partnerships, so I'm delighted these networks are able to continue their incredible work tackling infectious diseases that pose threats to people, livestock, crops and natural resources.

 

"Investing in collaborations like these will better prepare us for future disease epidemics and to more effectively tackle the slow-moving pandemic of antimicrobial resistance," said Dr. Mark Palmer, director of international strategy at the Medical Research Council. "These global networks are integral to ensuring the UK harnesses the extraordinary potential of research and innovation to enrich and improve the lives of people living in the UK and around the world."

 

- Roslin Institute