The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has opened a vaccine development and evaluation centre (VDEC) to globally bolster pandemic preparedness.
Located at the Porton Down site of the UKHSA, the facility is spread over 2,800m² of laboratory space.
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The centre will have more than 200 scientists, who will work on almost 100 projects.
VDEC will facilitate the development of new vaccines by testing and assessing them against a range of threats that can lead to a health emergency.
The facility will operate throughout the vaccine lifecycle, from product design to the assessment of effectiveness with the emergence of new variants.
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The key focus will be on pathogens for which there currently exist no vaccines, or for which vaccines are not regulated in the UK, including avian influenza and monkeypox.
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By GlobalDataVDEC is said to be capable of delivering new vaccines within 100 days of detecting a new threat.
UKHSA chief executive professor Dame Jenny Harries stated: “VDEC is a unique facility in the UK, delivering multiple critical early pre and post-clinical research and evaluation studies in a single research facility.
“This essential work will lead the way over the coming years in our fight against potentially deadly pathogens, further enhancing the UK’s credentials as a global science superpower.
“As well as building on the legacy of the pandemic caused by Covid-19, VDEC will target a wide range of other deadly viruses and pathogens, helping to secure the health and prosperity of the UK and saving lives around the world.”
