The Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (Defra) have jointly launched a substantial £12.5 million funding call. This initiative aims to stimulate the development of next-generation veterinary vaccine technology platforms. In support of prospective applicants, the International Veterinary Vaccinology Network (IVVN) and the British Society for Immunology (BSI) will host a dedicated in-person workshop in Nottingham, UK, on June 24, 2025.
Veterinary vaccines are recognized as highly cost-effective instruments for disease control, significantly enhancing animal welfare, productivity, and global food security. They also play a crucial role in reducing reliance on antimicrobials and preventing the spillover of zoonotic diseases. Despite ongoing advancements, challenges persist in developing universally safe and effective vaccines, with emerging outbreaks demanding increasingly rapid solutions. Traditional vaccine production methods are often time-consuming, carry a higher risk of reversion to virulence, and necessitate more bespoke development against evolving pathogens. Consequently, novel strategies in immunogen design and genetic engineering, including recombinant DNA technologies, have propelled the rise of next-generation vaccine platforms capable of eliciting more potent immune responses. These breakthroughs in bioscience, coupled with advancements in tools, technology, data science, and Artificial Intelligence, present a significant opportunity to create a versatile toolbox of vaccine platforms for producing highly effective vaccines.
