Theme 2: Clinical Characterisation

Prospective cohort studies for emerging and zoonotic infections provide essential information and material to characterise the disease, understand outcome risk factors, and develop medical countermeasures. Of the three studies we established for HPRUEZI-II, the Lyme-UK and Arbo-UK study, which were severe impeded by the COVID-19 pandemic, are now running and will continue to ensure maximum value for the investment. The third study, HCID-UK, investigating high consequence infectious disease, allowed us to rapidly mobilise clinical teams to characterise the UK’s first COVID-19 patients (See 9.3 Partnerships, below), and subsequently mpox and adeno-associated virus 2 (AAV2) hepatitis (the latter not a HCID). In HPRU-EZI-III we are reformatting this study as Outbreak-UK, to facilitate response to any outbreaks of important  emerging threats. As before, we will maintain our capacity to deploy HPRU staff and students overseas at short notice, in liaison with the UK Rapid Support Team. We will also continue to study pathogen transmission in healthcare settings, critical to controlling nosocomial spread of emerging infections.

Initial Projects

• Lyme-UK study
• Arbo-UK study
• Nosocomial transmission of emerging pathogens: assessing and mitigating the risks
• Outbreak-UK Study

Theme Leads

• Prof Lance Turtle, University of Liverpool
• Dr Tommy Rampling, UKHSA