The Pirbright Institute

The Pirbright Institute

We are a world-leading centre of excellence in the research and surveillance of viral diseases of livestock and viruses that spread from animals to humans.

Explore our science

Four black and white cows grazing on lush green grass. The sky is bright blue with fluffy white clouds.

Protecting the UK

Our facilities provide a National Capability and are unique within the UK with a complement of scientific expertise and physical resources.

National Capability

A curious sheep stands alert in grassy field, looking straight a camera

Controlling bluetongue virus

With a Restricted Zone in place in England, our Reference Laboratories are ramping up bluetongue virus (BTV) testing to protect livestock and minimise economic impacts.

Bluetongue virus testing

Researcher in white lab coat and purple gloved hands pipetting into an eppendorf tube

Ourscience

Our innovative fundamental and applied bioscience contributes to global food security and health, improving quality of life for animals and people.

Explore our science

Two people stood having a discussion amongst wildflowers

Engage with us

Collaborate with us to access our facilities and explore our training courses delivered by our experts in science, engineering and biosafety.

Engage with us

Facilities and resources

Discover our specialist science facilities, including unique high-containment laboratories, advanced technology platforms, and access our services and products like diagnostic testing.

Facilities and resources

Latest news

See all news

15 October 2024

Study explores aerosol immunisation as path to broadly protective influenza vaccine

Scientists at The Pirbright Institute and the University of Oxford have taken a significant step towards developing a universal influenza vaccine. Influenza vaccines have long been the first line of defence against flu, but they come with a significant challenge. These vaccines are designed to…

01 October 2024

See all news

Preventing and controlling viral diseases

Viruses we study

Our research focuses on viruses that are potentially devastating for the economy, food security and the wellbeing of animals and humans.

Explore the viruses we study

Transmission electron microscope image shows SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Crown-like spikes on the outer edge of the virus particles give coronaviruses their name.

Latest research

See all publications

Aerosol immunization with influenza matrix, nucleoprotein, or both prevents lung disease in pig

Vatzia E, Paudyal B, Dema B, Carr BV, Sedaghat-Rostami E, Gubbins S, Sharma B, Moohouse E, Morris S, Ulaszewska M, MacLoughlin R, Salguero FJ, Gilbert SC, Tchilian E

A rosin-functionalized plastic surface inactivates African swine fever virus

Hemmink JD, Shroff S, Chege N, Haapakski M, Dixon LK, Marjomäki V

Empirical and model-based evidence for a negligible role of cattle in peste des petits ruminants virus transmission and eradication

Herzog CM, Aklilu F, Sibhatu D, Shegu D, Belaineh R, Mohammed AA, Kidane M, Schulz C, Willett BJ, Cleaveland S, Bailey D, Peters AR, Cattadori IM, Hudson PJ, Asgedom H, Buza J, Forza MS, Chibssa TR, Gebre S, Juleff N, Bjørnstad ON, Baron MD, Kapur V

The dual role of a highly structured RNA (the S fragment) in the replication of foot-and-mouth disease virus

Ward JC, Lasecka-Dykes K, Dobson SJ, Gold S, Kingston NJ, Herod MR, King DP, Tuthill TJ, Rowlands DJ, Stonehouse NJ

Arthropod-Borne Viruses of Human and Animal Importance: Overwintering in Temperate Regions of Europe during an Era of Climate Change

Mansfield KL, Schilling M, Sanders C, Holding M, Johnson N

Specific and Sensitive Visual Proviral DNA Detection of Major Pathogenic Avian Leukosis Virus Subgroups Using CRISPR-Associated Nuclease Cas13a

Xu Q, Zhang Y, Sadigh Y, Tang N, Chai J, Cheng Z, Gao Y, Qin A, Shen Z, Yao Y, Nair V

One-pot Golden Gate Assembly of an avian infectious bronchitis virus reverse genetics system

Bilotti K, Keep S, Sikkema AP, Pryor JM, Kirk J, Foldes K, Doyle N, Wu G, Freimanis G, Dowgier G, Adeyemi O, Tabatabaei SK, Lohman GJS, Bickerton E

Single-cell analysis reveals lasting immunological consequences of influenza infection and respiratory immunization in the pig lung

Muir A, Paudyal B, Schmidt S, Sedaghat-Rostami E, Chakravarti S, Villanueva-Hernández S, Moffat K, Polo N, Angelopoulos N, Schmidt A, Tenbusch M, Freimanis G, Gerner W, Richard AC, Tchilian E

Comparing Phylogeographies to Reveal Incompatible Geographical Histories within Genomes

Singer B, Nardo AD, Hein J, Ferretti L

Comparative evaluation of disease dynamics in wild boar and domestic pigs experimentally inoculated intranasally with the European highly virulent African swine fever virus genotype II strain "Armenia 2007"

Sánchez-Cordón PJ, Lean FZX, Batten C, Steinbach F, Neimanis A, Potier MFL, Wikström-Lassa E, Wynne F, Strong R, McCleary S, Crooke H, Gavier-Widén D, Núñez A

See all publications