Our impact
Our work has a huge impact both nationally and internationally as we fulfil our mission to be the world's leading innovative centre for preventing and controlling viral diseases of livestock. We play a crucial role in protecting UK livestock from viruses that have huge socio-economic impact with a unique combination of fundamental research and applied science in diagnostics and control.
The Institute is home to Reference Laboratories that focus on surveillance of viruses that are not endemic, but pose a threat to the UK. These include foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) and bluetongue virus (BTV). We provide the UK with its capability to monitor current and future threats from exotic viruses, to inform national and international government and non-governmental agencies, and to lead with efforts to best control exotic viruses if and when they arrive in the UK. For details on the importance and relevance of each of our areas of research please see the individual Group Research pages.
Latest published research
View a full list of published research by scientists at the Institute.
Award-winning science
Our staff and trustees have been honoured by her Majesty the Queen and others for their contributions to science, innovation and technology transfer. These include:
2021
- Pirbright wins Openness Award for internal engagement activities on animal research – December 2021
- Stefan Dascalu receives Social Impact Award for COVID-19 work in Romania and UK – November 2021
- Pirbright contributes to new global coronavirus research and innovation network – September 2021
- New Animal Vaccine Manufacturing and Innovation Centre to be established at Pirbright – June 2021
- Pirbright awarded Higher Education Business Continuity Network (HEBCoN) COVID-19 Pandemic Response award – July 2021
- Alderley Park Lighthouse Laboratory awards Medal of Appreciation to Pirbright for its donation of high throughput diagnostic equipment to support the UK’s COVID-19 testing programme – January 2021
2020
- Pirbright supports national test and trace programme – December 2020
2019
- Charlotte Cook receives In Vivo Skills Award, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) – December 2019
- Pirbright becomes a member of the Outreach Network for Gene Drive Research – August 2019
- Prof Venugopal Nair OBE nominated for Newton Prize, for the establishment of a Sino-British Centre for Research on Avian Diseases (CERAD) – August 2019
- Dr Samuel Thevasagayam, Pirbright Science Advisory Board member receives International Award from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) – July 2019
- Pirbright receives Leader in Openness Award – July 2019
- Pirbright destroys final rinderpest virus samples – June 2019
- Dr Andrew Broadbent and Dr Amin Asfor finalists in BBSRC Innovator of the Year – May 2019
2018
- Dr Claire Colenutt won the Innovation in Animal Healthcare award, Guildford Innovate Awards – December 2018
- Veronica Martini received the In Vivo Skills Award, Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) – December 2018
- World Reference Laboratory for Foot-and-Mouth Disease celebrates it's 60th Anniversary – November 2018
- Dr Bryan Charleston selected to sit on the Research Excellence Framework 2021 sub panel to oversee Agriculture, Veterinary and Food Science – April 2018
2017
- The Pirbright Institute jointly wins the Public Engagement category, for its contribution to the 360° Laboratory Animal Tours project, Understanding Animal Research (UAR) Openness Awards – December 2017
- BBSRC National Vaccinology Centre wins New Build category, Guildford Design Awards – November 2017
- Pirbright retains it's Athena SWAN Bronze award – October 2017
- BBSRC National Vaccinology Centre: The Jenner Building finalist in the Project of the Year category, Construction News Awards – July 2017
- Dr Vishi Reddy awarded the prestigious 2017 High Quality Poultry Science Award, by MSD Animal Health – June 2017
- Tom Whitehead won `Young Innovator of the Year` for his research on egg anti-viral proteins which could lead to a major step forward in vaccine production rates, Guildford Innovate Awards – February 2017
- Dr Anthony Wilson selected as 2017-2018 AAAS Alan I. Leshner Leadership Institute Public Engagement Fellow, American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) – February 2017
- Prof Venugopal Nair OBE jointly awarded the prestigious Royal Society International Collaboration Award for Research Professors – February 2017
2016
2015
- Prof Luke Alphey finalist of The European Inventor Award organised by the European Patent Office (EPO) – June 2015
- Dr Sue Baigent finalist in BBSRC Innovator of the Year Awards – March 2015
- Prof Venugopal Nair awarded an OBE for his work in the field of avian disease research – January 2015
2014
- The BBSRC National Virology Centre: The Plowright Building wins the Judges’ Special Award at the British Construction Industry (BCI) Awards – October 2014
- Prof Luke Alphey was voted BBSRC’s Innovator of the Year 2014, recognising his work on the genetic based control of disease insects – February 2014
- The Pirbright Institute gets ‘Thinking New’ Award from AECOM for the Institute’s creative solution of waste and demolition management using its Waste Harmony initiative – January 2014
2013
- Dr Bryan Charleston recognised by the Association for Veterinary Teaching and Research Work (AVTRW) and presented with the Selborne Award for his contribution to foot-and-mouth disease research – May 2013
- Prof Peter Mertens, Dr Simon Carpenter, Dr Simon Gubbins and Dr Carrie Batten presented with BBSRC’s Social Innovators of the Year Award for 2013 for their work on the identification, modelling and control of bluetongue outbreaks in the UK and northern Europe – March 2013
2009
- Dr Simon Carpenter was presented with the first Rooker Award in 2009 for his research on the spread of viruses by arthropods
- Dr Don King received a Technology Innovation Award from Genecom for his work on the detection of foot-and-mouth disease virus
- Dr Nigel Ferris received the 2012 Meritorious Award from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) in recognition of his foot-and-mouth disease research and development work
- Professors John Anderson and Tom Barrett were awarded a medal by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation in 2011 for their contribution to the eradication of rinderpest
- Professors Philip Mellor and John Anderson were awarded an OBE and MBE, respectively, for their work in the fields of bluetongue and foot-and-mouth disease diagnostics
- Prof Martin Shirley (Director of the Institute from 2006-2010) received a CBE for Services to Science
For further information on the impact of our scientific research please look at specific area of research.