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Pirbight's Plowright building from afar with wild plants in front

15 November 2024

Pirbright welcomes two successful Doctoral Landscape Awards in life and environmental sciences

The Pirbright Institute is celebrating two major doctoral training initiatives funded by the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), each offering unique opportunities for the next generation of scientists. These programmes…

Close up of a pipette tip in a well of gel electrophoresis. Blue liquid is visible in the wells.

14 November 2024

Nurturing emerging leaders in science

Two talented Pirbright researchers have been awarded with Strategic Career Development Awards (SCDAs) to advance their research and career trajectories. Dr Rory Fortes de Brito, a Senior Postdoctoral researcher in the Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome (PRRS) Immunology group and Dr Lidia…

Latest news

21 October 2016

International conferences are “invaluable opportunities” for Pirbright students

Training is a key part of The Pirbright Institute’s mission and each year the Institute offers a diverse range of research projects for prospective PhD students. During their time at Pirbright, students would normally attend (and hopefully present at), at least one international conference -…

Transgenic larva

07 October 2016

Inconsistencies in regulation hinders efforts to combat deadly diseases with GM technology

The full potential of genetic modification or GM technology to tackle some of the world’s most dangerous diseases is still not being realised well over a decade after it was first developed. The lack of effective international regulation, regional variations in public opinion and uncertainties about…

29 September 2016

African swine fever one of the "hottest" topics at international conference

As fears grow over outbreaks of African swine fever (ASF) in eastern Europe, and Moldova becomes the latest country to impose bans on certain pork meat and live animal imports, ASF is one of the "hottest" topics of discussion according to organisers of the 10th Annual EPIZONE conference this week…

26 September 2016

Pirbright delegation to present at largest ever entomology conference

A large delegation from The Pirbright Institute will be flying the flag for great British science this week, at the biggest ever entomology conference. The Institute’s scientists, many of whom are world-leading experts in their respective fields, have been asked to present their research at the 25th…

Simple field tests developed for Indian strains of bluetongue virus

Researchers at The Pirbright Institute have developed field tests for Indian strains of bluetongue virus (BTV) that are reliable, rapid and simple to use. Bluetongue is a viral disease transmitted by biting midges ( Culicoides) that infects cattle, goats, sheep and wild animals such as deer…

New method of diagnosing foot-and-mouth disease will use fewer small animals

Scientists at The Pirbright Institute, led by Gareth Shimmon, have found a new way of diagnosing foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) which is more cost effective and relies less on the use of small animals. FMD is a highly contagious viral disease that infects cloven-hoofed (two-toed) mammals such as…

Control of African horse sickness improved with rapid, reliable diagnostic test

Researchers at The Pirbright Institute have developed a field test for African horse sickness (AHS) that is reliable, fast and simple to use. African horse sickness (AHS) is a viral disease that infects all equine species and is often fatal in horses and mules. It has become economically important…

Pirbright scientists train Tanzanian centre to gain OIE status

Scientists from The Pirbright Institute are paving the way for a regional OIE (World Organisation for Animal Health) reference laboratory in Tanzania by training local scientists to further advance their diagnostic capability of Peste des petit ruminants virus (PPRV) in the field and laboratory. Dr…

Genes may give some birds greater resistance to flu

New research carried out at The Pirbright Institute indicates that the genes of some chickens makes them almost resistant to bird flu. The findings, which are published in the journal Scientific Reports, show that genetics play a key part in whether the birds are susceptible or resistant to the…

World Zoonoses Day: The Pirbright Institute’s research leads the way in improving animal and human health

Understanding, controlling and eradicating diseases that affect animals has never been more important in helping protect human health as well, said The Pirbright Institute on World Zoonoses Day on Wednesday 6 July 2016. Over the last ten years experts estimate that three quarters of all emerging…

UK better prepared for a potential bluetongue virus outbreak than ever before

The UK has learnt many lessons from the bluetongue virus outbreak of 2006, and supported by The Pirbright Institute, is better prepared than ever to prevent or control a possible new outbreak, Dr Simon Carpenter from the Institute has said. Speaking at the 2016 World Buiatrics Congress in Dublin, Dr…

Maleness gene discovered in mosquitoes, could enable genetic control of malaria

Scientists, led by Dr Jaroslaw Krzywinski, Head of the Vector Molecular Biology group at The Pirbright Institute, have isolated a gene which determines maleness in the species of mosquito responsible for transmitting malaria. Nearly half the world’s population is at risk of malaria; last year there…