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

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

20 July 2026

Professor Bryan Charleston retires as Director and CEO of The Pirbright Institute

The Pirbright Institute announces that due to personal reasons, Professor Bryan Charleston MRCVS FRS has retired from his position as Institute Director and CEO. Bryan has made an exceptional contribution to The Pirbright Institute over more than three decades. Since joining the Institute in 1994…

15 July 2026

World’s first gene edited Culicoides biting midges

Scientists have successfully edited the genome of biting midges, opening the door to new research on how these insects transmit disease.

19 June 2026

Pig study shows differences in immune responses to flu and coronavirus infections

New insights into how the immune system responds to influenza and coronavirus infections have been revealed in a study led by researchers at The Pirbright Institute. The findings could inform future vaccines and treatments for respiratory diseases in humans. Scientists used pigs, whose respiratory…

01 June 2026

Why pigs may hold the key to tackling the global threat of flu

As the world continues to grapple with evolving infectious diseases, scientists are increasingly turning to pigs in the fight against influenza. Advances in genetic engineering, immunology, and imaging technologies are positioning pigs as one of the most promising models for developing next…

19 May 2026

Pirbright Institute scientist recognised for outstanding global service to veterinary science

A leading scientist at The Pirbright Institute, Professor Ian Brown OBE, has been awarded a Gold Medal at the 93 rd World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) general session in recognition of his global contribution to understanding influenza. The annual award is granted to one person worldwide in…

19 May 2026

Pirbright expertise shapes global guidelines on African Swine Fever vaccines

Scientists from The Pirbright Institute and City University of Hong Kong have led the development of the first international guidelines for the field evaluation and post-vaccination monitoring of African swine fever virus (ASFV) vaccines. Produced to strengthen disease control amongst World…

14 May 2026

Emerging bird flu strain shows greater spread and infection potential in chickens

A widely circulating strain of avian influenza (H9N2) demonstrates significantly greater ability to replicate, spread, and infect chickens compared to another major lineage, research has shown. Led by The Pirbright Institute, and published in the Journal of General Virology, the study evaluated H9N2…

12 May 2026

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

The Gordon Memorial Lecture: A paradigm shift in high pathogenicity avian influenza and perspectives for the future

I. H. Brown

Stability of influenza viruses in the milk of cows and sheep

Jenna Schafers, Caroline J. Warren, Jiayun Yang, Junsen Zhang, Sarah J. Cole, Jayne Cooper, Karolina Drewek, Natalie McGinn, Mehnaz Qureshi, Scott M. Reid, Nunticha Pankaew, Wenfang Spring Tan, Sarah K. Walsh, Ashley C. Banyard, Ian Brown, Paul Digard, Munir Iqbal, Joe James, Thomas P. Peacock, Edward Hutchinson

A G57 (BJ/94-like) H9N2 avian influenza virus exhibits enhanced replication and tissue dissemination in chickens compared with a G1-B virus

Sushant Bhat, Jean-Remy Sadeyen, Jiayun Yang, Klaudia Chrzastek, Thusitha K. Karunarathna, Audra-Lynne Schlachter, Mehnaz Qureshi, Arslan Mehboob, Dagmara Bialy, Benjamin C. Mollett, Alejandro Nunez, Holly Shelton, Munir Iqbal

Copper(II) benzyloxychalcone analogues as new potential metallodrugs against SARS-CoV-2 replication

Igor Andrade Santos, Victoria Riquena Grosche, Laiane dos Santos Oliveira, Pedro Henrique de Souza Guarda, Gustavo Clauss Rodrigues, Rayany Cristina de Souza, Deborah Cristina Teixeira Alves, Andres Merits, Robinson Sabino-Silva, Dalan Bailey, Camilla Abbehausen, Mark Harris, Ana Carolina Gomes Jardim

The African swine fever virus MGF505-1R protein recruits the cullin-RING-ligase machinery to promote p300 degradation

Samuel Connell, Anusyah Rathakrishnan, Joanna Wells, Linda K. Dixon, Ana Luisa Reis

Integrating multiplexing into confineable gene drives effectively overrides resistance in Anopheles stephensi

Mireia Larrosa-Godall, Lewis Shackleford, Matthew P. Edgington, Philip T. Leftwich, James C. Y. Luk, Joshua Southworth, Stewart Rosell, Jake T. Creasey, Jack M. Aked, Katherine Nevard, Alexander Dodds, Morgan Mckee, Eunice Adedeji, Estela Gonzalez, Joshua X. D. Ang, Michelle A. E. Anderson, Luke Alphey

Using pangenome variation graphs to improve mutation detection in a large DNA virus

Tim Downing, Chandana Tennakoon, Lidia Lasecka-Dykes, Caroline Wright

The changing landscape of bluetongue in northern Europe

Marion England, Thomas Balenghien, Carrie Batten, Emmanuel Bréard, Ilse De Leeuw, Nick De Regge, Maxime Duhayon, Claire Garros, Pachka Hammami, Melle Holwerda, Archie Murchie, Christopher Sanders, Mathilde Uiterwijk, René van den Brom, Eva Veronesi, Simon Gubbins

Oropouche virus: transmission, epidemiology, genetic diversity, and public health implications

Lorenzo Subissi, James R. Otieno, Christopher Ruis, Ingrid Rabe, Anurag Agrawal, Laith Jamal Abu-Raddad, Esam I. Azhar, Martin Beer, Haroldo Bezerra, Leon Caly, Meera Chand, Ariamys Companioni, Tulio de Oliveira, Isabelle Dietrich, Christian Drosten, Pablo Duran, Nuno R. Faria, Adeola Fowotade, Lionel Gresh, Baoying Huang, Jason Kindrachuk, Marion P.G. Koopmans, Bette Korber, Yee-Sin Leo, Placide Mbala-Kingebeni, Martina McMenamin, Nada M. Melhem, Vincent J. Munster, Bruno T.D. Nunes, Bas B. Oude Munnink, Felipe G. Naveca, Malik Peiris, Gustavo Palacios, Paola Resende, Angel Rodriguez, Senjuti Saha, Tadaki Suzuki, Andrea Vicari, Anne von Gottberg, Pragya Yadav, Jairo Mendez-Rico, Maria D. Van Kerkhove, Diana P. Rojas