More than 200 scientists will be housed at the new centre developing vaccines for bird flu, Mpox and Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever
A new vaccine development unit has opened at the high-security Porton Down laboratories in a bid to tackle ‘Disease X’ and other unknown future threats.
The Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre (VDEC) in Wiltshire will house more than 200 scientists working to support development of vaccines to protect against threats including avian influenza, Mpox and Crimean-Congo Haemorrhagic Fever.
Run by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), the unit is designed to support the global “100 Days Mission” on vaccines, which aims to create prototype vaccines for all major viral pathogens ahead of a new outbreak.
“This new centre cements the UK’s global position spearheading pandemic preparedness, vaccine development, and scientific discovery,” said Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.