The UK government has announced a new £33.2 million investment to accelerate the development of vaccines targeting some of the world's most dangerous infectious diseases, helping protect both global populations and people across the UK from future epidemic and pandemic threats.
Recognising that infectious diseases do not respect national borders, the funding will support scientists in developing, testing and deploying vaccines more rapidly when emerging health threats arise. The investment is designed to strengthen global health security while boosting Britain's ability to respond to future outbreaks before they reach crisis point.
The programme builds on the success of previous government-backed vaccine research, including support for the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine during the pandemic. Ministers say the latest funding will help ensure researchers can react faster to future infectious disease emergencies.
Delivered through the UK Vaccine Network in partnership with Innovate UK, the investment will focus on diseases with significant epidemic potential, including Ebola, plague, Marburg virus disease, Lassa fever, Nipah virus, chikungunya and Mayaro virus.
Eight projects have been awarded funding to advance promising vaccine candidates, clinical trials and innovative technologies aimed at speeding up vaccine design, manufacturing and deployment.
The programme will also strengthen the UK's scientific and clinical trial capabilities, helping researchers move more quickly from laboratory development to real-world deployment. A key focus will be ensuring vaccines remain affordable and accessible for countries most vulnerable to infectious disease outbreaks.
Health Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment, Chris McDonald, said:
“The world remains at risk from new and re-emerging infectious diseases, and outbreaks overseas can quickly become threats to people here at home.
“This £33.2 million investment will back leading scientists to develop and deploy vaccines faster and strengthen our pandemic preparedness while supporting our world-leading life sciences sector.
“By investing before a crisis hits, we can better protect the public, save lives and ensure the UK is ready to respond to future threats.”
The diseases targeted through the programme continue to present significant risks to public health worldwide.
Ebola, for example, carries an average case-fatality rate of around 50%, while recent outbreaks of Marburg virus disease in Rwanda during 2024 and Tanzania in 2025 highlighted the ongoing threat posed by emerging infectious diseases. Currently, there is no approved vaccine or antiviral treatment for Marburg virus disease.
Officials believe sustained investment in vaccine research between outbreaks is essential to reducing response times and limiting the international spread of emerging diseases.
Recent reports concerning a suspected pneumonic plague case linked to a laboratory worker's death in Russia's Irkutsk region, which resulted in nearly 200 contacts being placed under precautionary medical observation, have further underlined the need for continued vigilance against serious infectious disease threats.
The Department of Health and Social Care is delivering the funding through the UK Vaccine Network, which was established to accelerate the development of vaccines against diseases with epidemic potential.
Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), will oversee delivery of the funding programme. Five of the eight projects will be supported through Official Development Assistance (ODA), helping to improve health outcomes and strengthen resilience in eligible low and middle-income countries.
By investing in vaccine innovation before outbreaks occur, the government aims to enhance global preparedness, protect vulnerable populations and strengthen the UK's resilience against future health emergencies.
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