Pandemic H1N1 influenza projects in the UK
In response to the pandemic H1N1 outbreak in early 2009, the Wellcome Trust, MRC, BBSRC, Defra and the Department of Health have facilitated and accelerated funding for pandemic H1N1 influenza research.Projects relating to immediate public health benefit and clinical management have in particular been prioritised.
Recently awarded pandemic influenza projects are listed below.
Wellcome Trust-MRC consortium grants
The following two pandemic H1N1 research proposals were developed following a workshop convened by the Wellcome Trust, Department of Health and the MRC in May 2009.
FluWatch
Led by Professor Andrew Hayward, University College London
FluWatch will investigate influenza transmission, serology and T cell responses in a cohort of up to 10 000 volunteers within households.The award is funded 50:50 by the Wellcome Trust and MRC, to a total of approximately £2.1 million.
Mechanisms of severe acute influenza consortium (MOSAIC)
Led by Professor Peter Openshaw, Imperial College London
MOSAIC aims to investigate the virology, immunology and genetics of hospitalised influenza-infected patients through a collaborative network of UK centres. The award is funded 50:50 by the Wellcome Trust and MRC, to a total of approximately £2.7 million.
Wellcome Trust-MRC-BBSRC-Defra consortium grants
A second workshop was convened by funders in June 2009 in order to discuss priority research towards understanding the potential impact of pandemic H1N1 in swine. Two interlinking grants were subsequently funded under the Combating Swine Influenza (COSI) initiative.
Epidemiological and evolutionary investigations of pandemic H1N1 influenza virus in pigs and associated occupational risks.
Led by Professor James Wood, University of Cambridge
Transmission, infection dynamics, and immunopathology of pandemic H1N1 virus in pigs and comparability to human infection.
Led by Professor Ian Brown, Veterinary Laboratories Agency Weybridge
COSI is funded by the BBSRC, Defra, the MRC and the Wellcome Trust to approximately £1.7m.
Wellcome Trust pandemic influenza research projects
The Wellcome Trust has recently funded the following project through its influenza fast-tracking process:
A reverse genetics system for the study of swine influenza H1N1 virus: a resource for the UK influenza research community
Led by Professor Wendy Barclay, Imperial College London
Involving the development of a reverse genetics system for the pandemic H1N1 virus. Award funded at £23 000.
Household transmission of respiratory viruses: Who acquires infection from whom
Led by Dr James Nokes, Warwick University
The study will be based at the Wellcome Trust-KEMRI Major Overseas Programme in Kenya. Award funded at £294 000.
MRC pandemic influenza research projects
The MRC has recently funded the following projects through its influenza fast-tracking process:
The role of CD4+ T helper cells in the immunogenicity of an inactivated whole swine H1N1 virus vaccine with alum as an adjuvant.
Led by Dr Xiaoning Xu, MRC Human Immunology Unit, £99 771.
Characterisation of the specificity of ligand binding of H1N1 to understand the transmission properties of the virus.
Led by Dr Steve Gamblin, MRC National Institute of Medical Research, £51 000.
Funding of a new ABI 3730 XL DNA analyzer to enhance the WHO Collaborating centre's rapid sequencing capabilities.
Prof Jim Smith, NIMR, £250 000.
NIHR flu research portfolio
14 projects costing £2.25 million have been fast tracked by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR), on behalf of the Department of Health for urgent national swine flu research. Results from this research are expected by the end of 2009.
- Press release
- List of NIHR pandemic influenza projects
- The first NIHR-funded project is published in the ‘Lancet’ (Press release, January 2010)