Sir Patrick Vallance visits HPRU-EZI team in Liverpool

The UK Government’s Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Lucy Chappell visited Liverpool this week to learn more about the role of The Pandemic Institute and its partner institutions, in tackling infectious diseases.

The visit included the University of Liverpool’s Ronald Ross laboratories, the NIHR Clinical Research Facility led by the Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and The Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) Accelerator Research Clinic. All are playing a key role in helping The Pandemic Institute in tackling emerging infections and future pandemic threats

Researchers from these institutions shared their latest outputs and future plans including details of how they are using the lessons learned from the Covid-19 pandemic to address infectious disease challenges more widely.

Key city figures including Mayor Joanne Anderson, Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram and University of Liverpool Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones joined the discussions.

Government Chief Scientific Adviser Sir Patrick Vallance said: “It was great to visit The Pandemic Institute in Liverpool and see first-hand the work that is being done by a collection of leading institutions in preparing for future pandemics and tackling infectious diseases.”

DHSC Chief Scientific Adviser Professor Lucy Chappell said: “It was inspiring to visit Liverpool and hear from experts in a range of disciplines who are undertaking translational research to address infectious diseases and respond to emerging infections. This work is making an impact at a local, national and global level.”