Science Spotlight: Dr Andrew Broadbent
Dr Andrew Broadbent’s research is focussed on birnaviruses, economically important viruses that have a large impact on aquaculture and poultry industries.
Dr Andrew Broadbent’s research is focussed on birnaviruses, economically important viruses that have a large impact on aquaculture and poultry industries.
In June 2019 The Pirbright Institute destroyed the last samples of rinderpest virus held in the World Reference Laboratory for rinderpest. This completed a major milestone in the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) programme to eradicate the virus.
Scientists at The Pirbright Institute have used genetic engineering to develop a vaccine that protects birds against both Marek’s disease and avian influenza, also known as bird flu. The process is faster and more efficient compared to previous methods, which will allow poultry vaccine producers to rapidly update vaccine strains in order to keep up with virus evolution.
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