World-leading UKHSA vaccine centre opens in Porton Down
It will help us tackle future pandemic threats
A world-leading Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) has opened it’s doors this morning (7th August) in South Wiltshire.
The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) centre is building on it’s pandemic legacy and aims to develop new life-saving vaccines for the UK and across the world.
Located at the UKHSA’s site in Porton Down, the centre is part of the Agency’s three-year strategy and pools together over 200 top scientists to work on more than 100 projects, including deadly pathogens with the potential to become a pandemic.
Professor Dame Jenny Harries described VDEC as an exciting step-change in the UK’s vaccine research.
“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.”
VDEC’s work centres around the development of new vaccines and will target new pathogens that don’t currently have a vaccine, doesn’t exist in the UK or could be improved.
The centre has unique capabilities, specialising in high consequence infectious diseases.
100 Days Mission
Chief Scientific Officer for UKHSA, Professor Isabel Oliver said VDEC will play a ‘vital’ role in delivering the 100 days mission.
The mission aims to deliver an effective vaccine within 100 days of a pandemic threat being identified.
“I am proud that the UK has embraced this mission and is leading globally in identifying and tackling ongoing and emerging health threats,” Professor Oliver said, adding: “UKHSA’s scientific capacity and capability continues to develop and play a significant role on the global, national and local stage.”
A report, published today (7th August), has found the UK is making important progress towards reaching the aims set out in six key areas, including surveillance, manufacturing and clinical trials/regulation.