Researchers across the UK are being backed with more than £54 million to help spot and tackle biological threats before they cause wider harm.
The investment, coordinated through UK Research and Innovation, will support 18 projects covering human, animal and plant health. The work includes preparing for future epidemics, tackling antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and developing faster vaccines for livestock.
One in six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections worldwide were resistant to antibiotics in 2023. In Britain, ash dieback is estimated to cost around £15 billion, while invasive mosquitoes are an increasing concern because they can spread diseases including dengue, Zika and chikungunya.
From AI vaccines to healthier forests
The projects bring together biology, public health, social science, artificial intelligence, environmental research and veterinary science. Cardiff University researchers will examine how behaviour, social settings and public trust affect the spread of disease, helping improve outbreak prediction and preparation.
At the University of Cambridge, artificial intelligence will be used to develop vaccine antigens for animal and zoonotic pathogens. The Pirbright Institute will work on mRNA vaccine platforms for livestock, while Royal Botanic Gardens Kew will explore ways to help forests withstand tree diseases such as ash dieback.
Other teams will investigate disease risks during humanitarian crises and AMR across food, farming and environmental systems. The programme is co-funded by government partners including Defra, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and the Department of Health and Social Care, alongside UKRI.
Why it matters for Britain
The research could strengthen the UK’s ability to detect disease earlier, protect livestock and support farmers and food producers. It also aims to safeguard forests, ecosystems and public health while building expertise in vaccine development and epidemic preparedness.
