Pirbright

About

The Pirbright Institute is a charitable company, limited by guarantee, funded by BBSRC (Biotechnology & Biological Sciences Research Council), which is part of UKRI (UK Research & Innovation), in turn funded by BEIS (government department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy).

Pirbright employs 400 scientists and operational staff.  The Pirbright site includes a bio-containment level-4 laboratory complex, bio-containment level-4 large animal facilities, and a range of lower bio-containment laboratory, animal and insectary facilities.  All facilities were developed over the past decade through over £300m of UK government investment, and provide the UK with world-leading state-of-the-art bio-containment capability.

Pirbright is contracted by Defra (government Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs) as the UK Reference Laboratory for nine high-consequence viral pathogens of farm animals.  Pirbright is also the Europe/Asia Reference Laboratory for WOAH (World Organisation for Animal Health) for these viruses, and the World Reference Laboratory for FAO (United Nations Food & Agriculture Organization) for three of these viruses.

A number of these viral pathogens are ‘zoonotic’, ie, are also a hazard to human health.

Pirbright also delivers high impact cutting-edge research on viral pathogens of farm animals, with 29 Group Leaders and Fellows publishing over 130 peer-reviewed research articles in 2022, and a thriving body of over 50 PhD students.  Over half of Pirbright’s turnover is generated each year from research project grant awards won in open competition from a wide range of national and global funders.

Role In the National Laboratories Alliance

The Pirbright Institute is a UK National Capability.  The diagnostic surveillance services of its Reference Laboratories enable the UK government to monitor and detect outbreaks of viral diseases of farm animals, and the diagnostic capability then plays a critical role in the control and elimination of disease outbreaks when they occur.  Pirbright’s research is also part of its National Capability role, as its research is important for the prevention of disease outbreaks in the UK, and also provides tools to combat outbreaks when they occur.

Several Pirbright scientists are recognised ‘Disease Experts’ for particular viruses, providing expert advice and support on those viruses to UK government, and internationally to WOAH and FAO.  This extends to provision of training materials and courses for UK and global vets and scientists.

Pirbright is also a centre of excellence for biorisk management and bio-containment engineering, engaging in collaborations and developing training opportunities with other bio-containment facilities within the UK and globally.