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.

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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

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Ourscience

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

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Engage with us

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

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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

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Wildflower meadow begind Plowright building

15 July 2025

Pirbright signs Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice

The Pirbright Institute has signed the Concordat for the Environmental Sustainability of Research and Innovation Practice. Produced in collaboration with representatives across research and innovation, the voluntary concordat encourages coordinated efforts across the sector to reduce environmental…

Plowright and Jenner Buildings at Pirbright

04 July 2025

Tools to assess the performance of FMD vaccines – driving improvements in quality

Despite widespread use of inactivated vaccines to control foot-and-mouth disease (FMD), there is no systematic approach to demonstrate the regional relevance of products against the specific serotypes and strains that circulate in endemic countries in Africa and Asia. A failure to adopt independent…

A Chef and a person stood on grass together looking at the camera. Behind them on the left is a green cylinder with metal legs. White words on the green composter read "ridan food waste composter. keeping the world turning."

21 May 2025

Mulch ado about food waste

A new composter is helping The Pirbright Institute recycle its food waste, fertilise allotments and reduce its carbon footprint. The hot aerobic composter uses no power and blends wood pellets with canteen waste to produce up to 6.5 tonnes of mulch a year on site. For every 5 kg of combined food and…

Small herd of white cattle in South Africa on dried grass. The image has a sunset haze to it.

21 May 2025

Pirbright expertise informs economic analysis for foot-and-mouth disease control

How much should policymakers invest in controlling animal diseases that spread across national borders, who should pay, and will intervention really work? A researcher at The Pirbright Institute is one of a team of seven authors who have drafted a new handbook for the Food and Agriculture…

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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

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'Vivaldi': an amplicon-based whole-genome sequencing method for the four seasonal human coronaviruses, 229E, NL63, OC43 and HKU1, alongside SARS-CoV-2

McClure CP, Tsoleridis T, Hill JD, Holmes N, Chappell JG, Byaruhanga T, Duncan J, Tofan M, Berry L, Clark G, Irving WL, Tarr AW, Ball JK, Astbury S, Loose M.

Membrane Expression Enhances Folding, Multimeric Structure Formation, and Immunogenicity of Viral Capsid Proteins

Cui J, Yuan F, Qin J, Jeon JH, Yun DS, Wang T, Xu R, Cao H, Tungate AA, Netherton CL, Chen J.

A nanobody-based therapeutic targeting Nipah virus limits viral escape

Isaacs A, Nieto GV, Zhang X, Modhiran N, Barr J, Thakur N, Low YS, Parry RH, Barnes JB, Jara R, Himelreichs J, Yao Y, Deride C, Barthou-Gatica B, Salinas-Rebolledo C, Ehrenfeld P, Hen JJ, Hayes N, Paramitha D, Morgan MS, McMillan CLD, Jones ML, Munro TP, Khromykh AA, Reading PC, Young PR, Chappell KJ, Shi Y, Bailey D, Marsh GA, Chiu S, Rojas-Fernandez A, Watterson D.

A centralised immunogen approach to develop a more broadly protective modified live porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus 1 vaccine candidate

de Brito RCF, Sadigh Y, Bowman J, Clive S, Jackson B, Pedrera M, Crofts F, Bernard M, Lean FZX, Núñez A, Seago J, Frossard JP, Graham SP.

IFITM knockout DF1 cells produce higher influenza and newcastle disease viral yields: a proof of concept for avian origin cell-based vaccine production

Samy A, Alber A, Fife M, Hammond JA.

Clade 2.3.4.4b highly pathogenic avian influenza H5N1 viruses: knowns, unknowns, and challenges

Xie Z, Yang J, Jiao W, Li X, Iqbal M, Liao M, Dai M.

Gene-modified genotype II live attenuated African swine fever virus induces cross-protection against genotype I but not against genotype IX

Rathakrishnan A, Hemmink JD, Petrovan V, Reis AL, Dixon LK.

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Diagnostic testing

How to request virus diagnostic services from our reference laboratories.

Train with Pirbright

Explore our training courses in science, engineering, and biosafety, and learn from leading experts.

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Careers and learning

Browse our current vacancies and explore opportunities for Fellowships, PhDs, and apprenticeships.