News

Read the latest news and updates from The Pirbright Institute.

Go to main content

Filters

Filters

Enter keywords

Select virus

Select month

Select researcher

Featured news

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

Success of new course in Argentina may help Institute build more links with South America

The success of a new porcine and bovine immunology course, run by Dr Maria Montoya, (in collaboration with Dr. Patricia Zamorano and Dr. Claudia Mongini from the Institute of Virology at INTA in Buenos Aires), could pave the way for The Pirbright Institute to significantly develop its international…

Pirbright scientists lead the way in developing an effective vaccine against deadly horse virus

Scientists at The Pirbright Institute are confident they have identified a safe and effective vaccination strategy for African horse sickness virus (AHSV) – the battle is now to build a business case persuasive enough to encourage a manufacturer to develop it and finally bring it to market. African…

Institute staff join community wildlife group to help restore local wetland area

It was a tough job, but someone had to do it and the Fox Corner Community Wildlife Association (FCCWA) were very grateful to the Institute staff who volunteered recently to clear the invasive plant threatening this greatly valued community wetland area. In yet another fantastic local outreach event…

Veronica and Daisy’s Soapbox Science success!

Dr Veronica Fowler’s presentation for Soapbox Science 2016 proved a hit with the crowds on London’s Southbank with help from her PhD students - and Daisy the cow! Dozens of fascinated people gathered round Veronica’s Soapbox during the event and some brave volunteers donned biosecurity gear so they…

Scientists test universal flu vaccine on pigs with encouraging results

The influenza virus (flu) is a major health threat to humans and animals such as pigs, causing illness and major economic losses to producers and farmers. Pig flu viruses can also sometimes jump from pigs to humans and cause pandemics, as happened in 2009. There are many different strains of flu…

Scientists conclude there is no viable alternative rinderpest vaccine for now

A study to find an alternative vaccine for rinderpest virus (RPV), which could be used in place of the traditional live virus vaccine, has concluded that there is currently no usable alternative - with implications for global preparedness. Rinderpest is one of only two viral diseases (the other…

Study shows persistence of FMDV is related to its virulence

A study by scientists at The Pirbright Institute – home to the UK, World and European Reference Laboratory for foot-and-mouth disease virus (FMDV) - has shown that the persistence of specific viruses is related to their virulence in cell culture. African buffalo ( Syncerus caffer) are the primary…

World Veterinary Day 2016

World Veterinary Day is a globally recognised event which highlights the veterinary profession and its contribution to the health of both animals and humans. This year it takes place on Saturday 30 April and is themed 'Continuing education with a One Health focus'. Launched in 2000, World Veterinary…

The Institute showcases its scientific excellence to Brazilian trade delegation

The Pirbright Institute recently hosted a visit by a Brazilian trade delegation to showcase the excellence of its science, and explore the opportunities for new collaboration. The visit which included members from Brazil’s veterinary, scientific and agricultural sectors was organised as part of the…

International partnership to develop FMD detection kits

The Pirbright Institute has signed an international partnership agreement with IZSLER, the leading Italian animal disease research body, to jointly produce cutting edge diagnostic kits for foot-and-mouth disease (FMD). The new kits have been evaluated for excellent reliability and sensitivity, and…

Pirbright scientists inspire at Innovate

On Saturday 12 March 2016, scientists from Pirbright headed to Innovate Guildford – a free festival of science and arts, where they showcased their research on influenza and insects. The Innovate Guildford science and arts festival is part of the Mayor of Guildford, Councillor Nikki Nelson-Smith’s…

26 February 2016

The Pirbright Institute hosts the South Wilts Virus Group Meeting

The South Wilts Virus Group (SWVG) is a forum for virologists in the Wiltshire, Surrey, Berkshire, Oxfordshire region. It was started in 1952 at the Common Cold Unit (CCU) at Harnham Down near Salisbury (hence the name South Wilts Virus Group) as an informal gathering of scientists in the area to…