LIVERPOOL'S INSTITUTE OF INFECTION AND GLOBAL HEALTH - Strategic plan 2016-2021 - The University of Liverpool
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LIVERPOOL’S
INSTITUTE OF INFECTION
AND GLOBAL HEALTH
Strategic plan
2016–2021
1 2
Contents Welcome
2 Welcome Welcome to the Strategic Plan 2016 – 2021 of the University of
Liverpool’s Institute of Infection and Global Health. In this document
3 Mission of the Institute Professor Tom Solomon
we describe our current and future ambition, and how we intend to Institute Director
4 Our organisation achieve it.
5 Strategic review
In developing this Strategic Plan, we have examined our strengths, and
6 Challenge 1: Environmental change identified the global challenges that our work seeks to address. These
7 Challenge 2: Food security challenges – relating to the growing needs to predict, diagnose, treat and
prevent infectious diseases in animals and humans – are both real and big: Professor Rodney Phillips
8 Challenge 3: Antimicrobial resistance
they threaten the livelihood and welfare of people globally, as they affect Chair, External Advisory Panel
9 Challenge 4: Diagnostic tests the security and safety of our food supply or contribute to the spread of
preventable or curable illnesses. The aim of our Institute is to make a material
10 Challenge 5: Vaccines
contribution to enhancing lives by tackling these infectious diseases.
11 Developing new researchers Photograph by Miles Standish
© 2015
12 Working in partnership Our goals are ambitious, yet we believe they are achievable. Doing so will
require the best scientific talent available. We will need to grow our team,
13 Measuring progress nurture the next generation of researchers, and collaborate with others.
We will also need to hold ourselves accountable to the objectives we are
setting. We are looking forward to receiving your feedback on the plans
outlined in this document.
Thank you for your support of our work.
3 4
Mission of the Institute of Infection and Our Organisation WE HOST TWO EXTERNALLY FUNDED
Global Health (IGH) at the University of Liverpool NATIONAL CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE:
The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
Infectious diseases impose a huge burden on leader in infection and global health, as reaffirmed are linked, and we tackle infections at the human- Our research is organised into three departments: Tracking emerging and zoonotic infections: Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging
human and animal health. The World Health in the UK Government’s Research Excellence animal interface, putting us at the forefront of the the Department of Infection Biology considers We are studying insect-borne diseases and those and Zoonotic Infections
Organization reports that three of the ten leading Framework (REF 2014). One Health agenda. infection at the molecular and cellular level, the that spread from animals to humans, as well as the
causes of death of people in 2012 were infectious Department of Clinical Infection, Microbiology and effect of climate change, environmental and societal The National Institute for Health Research (NIHR)
diseases, responsible for more than 6 million Mission We integrate fundamental biology, veterinary, Immunology examines infection in individuals, and impacts on disease burden. Health Protection Research Unit in
deaths worldwide. medical, population and social sciences research the Department of Epidemiology and Population Gastrointestinal Infections
Our mission is to be an international centre of in an inter-disciplinary manner. We work with Health studies infection at the population level. Our Improving the health of pets, working animals
Infectious diseases occur globally, but their excellence dedicated to improving the health of regional, national and international partners five major research themes bring together scientists and their owners: In addition, we are partners in the Health e-Research
impact is greatest in the developing world humans and animals by tackling key infectious to advance the control of infectious from across the departments. We are carrying out research and surveillance of Centre (HeRC), which is part of the Farr Institute of
where five of the ten leading causes of death diseases in the UK and globally. The Institute, diseases and improve health, diseases in cats, dogs and horses, and studying how Health Informatics Research.
are infections. The global burden of infectious established in 2010, brings together leading by influencing national and Understanding how pathogens cause disease: animal ownership can impact on human health.
diseases of animals, including livestock, has medical, veterinary, and basic science infectious international policy. We are studying the interactions between pathogens and
not been quantified, but is undoubtedly high. disease researchers from across the University. their hosts by investigating the key molecular, cellular and
Such diseases are important because they affect We conduct cutting edge research on the immunological processes in health and disease.
animal welfare; they have negative impacts on transmission, diagnosis, treatment and prevention
local, regional and national incomes; and they of infectious diseases, and are training the next Pioneering diagnostics, treatments and vaccines:
are a source of human disease. The University generation of researchers. We recognise that the We are working on better diagnostic strategies, INSTITUTE OF INFECTION AND GLOBAL HEALTH
of Liverpool is recognised as an international health of humans, animals and the environment therapeutics and vaccines, for gastrointestinal, respiratory,
neurological and blood infections of humans, as well as Department of Department of Clinical Infection, Department of Epidemiology
addressing animal health. This includes tackling drug Infection Biology Microbiology and Immunology and Population Health
resistance in viruses, bacteria and parasites which is
common to both humans and animals. Understanding how pathogens cause disease
Enhancing food safety and security:
Research Themes
Our mission is to improve the health of humans and animals We are protecting people from food-borne infections
such as Campylobacter and Salmonella as well as
Pioneering diagnostics, treatments and vaccines
by tackling key infectious diseases locally and globally ensuring improved control of endemic infectious
diseases of food-producing animals to promote their
Enhancing food safety and security
health and welfare. Tracking emerging and zoonotic infections
Improving the health of pets, working animals and their owners
5 6
1
Strategic Review Challenge one Environmental change
In 2015 the strengths of IGH were reviewed in the context of a number of globally important research challenges. This led to the selection of five major
challenges: these will become an increasing focus of IGH’s research over the next five years. A summary is below; and details of each challenge and IGH’s
Rapid climatic, environmental and societal changes are leading to the emergence of new diseases
strategy for addressing them are provided on the following pages. and the spread of existing ones.
The challenge The devastating Ebola virus disease epidemic in West of exposure to Lyme disease, an emerging disease in the UK.
MAJOR CHALLENGES IGH STRATEGY IMPACT – WITHIN 5 YEARS WE WILL HAVE Changes in the climate, environment, and society help to drive Africa in 2014/15 underscored the impact of emerging and Our public health work will extend to understanding the burden
the emergence and spread of infectious disease. About half re-emerging infections. of illness, investigating health inequalities and assessing the
of all infectious diseases of humans and animals are sensitive impact of modern diagnostics on public health surveillance
ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE: Rapid climatic, IGH will provide evidence to help predict and Determined the impact of future climate change
to climate, and many of them are expected to be affected Our contribution systems. We work closely with relevant policy-makers, for
1 environmental and societal changes are leading
to the emergence of new diseases and the
mitigate the impacts of climate, environmental,
and societal change on human and animal health
on one major endemic disease of livestock
by climate change. This is particularly the case for diseases
spread by insect vectors, which caused the deaths of nearly
IGH will develop methods to understand and predict the
effects of climate, environmental and societal change on
example with Public Health England, through the NIHR Health
Protection Research Units in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections,
spread of existing ones
750,000 people in 2012, as well as a huge burden of mortality the emergence and spread of infectious diseases of both and Gastrointestinal Infections, and with the World Health
and production loss in food-producing animals. Climate change humans and animals, so that measures to mitigate or adapt Organization and national governments.
FOOD SECURITY: 1 in 10 people globally lack IGH will be an international leader in food security Developed at least one novel prototype will also impact on the burden of water-borne and food- to consequences of global change can be developed. For
2 sufficient food for a healthy, active life. Feeding research, especially through improved control of vaccine against an endemic infectious disease borne diseases. Other global changes, such as urbanisation, example, IGH is developing models for the transmission Strategy
current and future populations requires a secure infectious disease in food producing animals, and of animals, in partnership with industry changing land use and increased travel and trade will drive the and spread of an animal disease, bluetongue, under future IGH will provide evidence to help predict and mitigate the
and safe supply of food improved food safety emergence of new diseases and the spread of existing ones. conditions of climate and environment. We will investigate how impacts of climate, environmental, and societal change
the structure of human societies and the contacts between on human and animal health. We will develop systems for
people affect the spread of respiratory diseases like influenza, examining transmission of emerging pathogens through
ANTIMICROBIAL RESISTANCE: Microbes IGH will investigate the clinical and environmental Developed at least one novel alternative to
and the role of urbanisation in the emergence of pathogens insect and tick vectors. This will include Hazard Group Three
are gaining resistance to the treatments used to factors that drive the evolution and development treat antimicrobial resistant infections and take
3 control them, making antimicrobial resistance
(AMR) one of the greatest current threats to
of AMR, and develop novel antimicrobial
treatment strategies
this towards clinical trials
in developing countries. We will identify which types of
native UK mosquito are able to spread viral infections
pathogens, and in collaboration with Public Health England,
Hazard Group 4 pathogens. We will strengthen our work in UK
to people and animals, should the pathogens emerge and international public health with the appointment of further
human and animal health
here in the future. We will study how tick species personnel in virology, and health protection.
are affected by temperature and rainfall so that we
DIAGNOSTIC TESTS: Many people and animals IGH will undertake research to develop new Developed at least one new diagnostic through can develop systems for forecasting people’s risk
4 remain untreated for infectious diseases because diagnostic tests for diseases of humans and animals, to commercialisation with an industrial partner
of a lack of accurate, affordable and available as well as improving existing diagnostic tests Case Study
diagnostic tests During the Ebola virus outbreak in West Africa we contributed
staff to controlling the disease in Africa, and analysed the
risk of further disease spread, and effect of control efforts,
VACCINES: Vaccines are the single most effective IGH will undertake research to improve the Informed a change in global immunisation advising both the UK and USA Governments (Read et al.
5 method to reduce the burden of infectious
diseases in humans and animals, but many major
effectiveness of current vaccines and drive the
development of new vaccines for major diseases
policy to include the incorporation of one new
vaccine (e.g. Group B streptococcus, malaria)
Lancet 2014;384; 1-2). Our fundamental science helped
with the understanding of how and why this virus has spread
diseases lack effective vaccines for their control of humans and animals (Carroll et al. Nature. 2015; 524:97-101).
2 3
7 8
Challenge two Food security Challenge three Antimicrobial resistance
1 in 10 people globally lack sufficient food for a healthy, active life. Feeding current and future Microbes are gaining resistance to the treatments used to control them, making antimicrobial
populations requires a secure and safe supply of food. resistance (AMR) one of the greatest current threats to human and animal health.
The challenge the responsibility for and “ownership” of animal disease. A better The challenge inhibition of pathogen-specific virulence factors and phage Strategy
Nearly 10% of people today, mostly in the developing world, understanding of the societal and behavioural factors which Case Study Antimicrobial resistance is recognised by the World Health based treatment therapies, to reduce the usage of current IGH will investigate the clinical and environmental factors that
lack sufficient food to lead active and healthy lives, yet the lead to outbreaks of Salmonella, Campylobacter and other food- The parasite Neospora caninum is the leading cause of Organization and governments around the world as one of antimicrobials and to provide realistic and clinically relevant drive the evolution and development of AMR, and develop novel
global population is expected to rise further, to 9 billion, by borne pathogens in people, will ameliorate the consequences abortion in cattle in the UK, with no effective drugs or the greatest threats to human and animal health. In humans, alternatives. We will implement carefully designed integrative antimicrobial treatment strategies.
2050. To feed current and future populations we need to ensure of these diseases. We will continue to explore the roles that vaccines, resulting in around 6,000 abortions per year; the burden of disease due to antimicrobial resistance is high pipelines using in vitro assays and in vivo models for screening
a secure supply of food that is safe to eat. Food production in environmental and food pathways and their interactions can and a US$1.3 billion global cost. We developed diagnostic and growing, globally and in the UK. For example, sepsis due novel therapeutics to treat major antimicrobial resistant We will consolidate our strengths in this area, supporting
future is expected to be challenged by the effects of climate play in food safety, examining how human behaviour can tests, and studied the pathogenesis, epidemiology to resistant bacteria causes over 50,000 deaths and costs bacteria, such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus the cross-faculty antimicrobial resistance initiative, with
change affecting crops, animals and driving the emergence and influence exposure to pathogens and the risk of disease. We and transmission of the parasite, to show when and the NHS £2.3 billion per year, more than breast, bowel and aureus (MRSA), E.coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and further appointments, particularly in microbiology. We will
spread of infectious diseases. A further challenge is the spread will use the latest genomic techniques to understand patterns how cattle were being infected. This led to control and prostate cancers combined. Antiviral drug resistance in HIV and Streptococcus pneumoniae. We have world leading expertise continue to work closely with stakeholders, including Public
of antimicrobial resistance in a broad sense – resistance to the of transmission, for example molecular typing of isolates of eradication measures, delivered to the industry through Hepatitis C require new approaches, and stronger international in understanding the mechanism of disease caused by these Health England, DEFRA, and the Food Standards Agency,
treatments used against viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. Campylobacter to gain key information about the make-up of collaboration with the Animal and Plant Health Agency collaborations. There is a need not just for new antimicrobials, pathogens and in developing unique, clinically relevant and and capitalise on our close links with the relevant NIHR
the UK Campylobacter population in humans and chickens. We (APHA) and ‘Myhealthyherd’ company, to eradicate the but also novel therapeutic strategies that target specific reproducible in vivo models to test for new treatments against Health Protection Research Units. We will also strengthen our
Our contribution are a major source of advice to UK Government on food safety infection from many herds, and impacting positively on microbial virulence factors and augment the immune response antimicrobial resistant infections. Importantly, our models can links with social and behavioural scientists, both within and
IGH will contribute to the prevention and control of infectious and our research work is widely quoted by the Chief Scientific the cattle industry (Williams et al. Infection and Immunity. to infection. also be used for pre-clinical testing of drug dosing strategies outside Liverpool, to develop our work on prescribing practise
disease in food producing animals, particularly through Advisor to the Food Standards Agency. 2007;75:1343-1348; Highlighted in REF 2014 as an coupled to monitoring of resistance development and for behaviour and the ecology of antimicrobial resistance.
improved diagnostics, new vaccinations and the development outstanding example of impact). Furthermore, to reduce selective pressure and preserve testing novel antimicrobial combinations. We will continue
of informed, bespoke management programmes that rely less Strategy the current arsenal of antimicrobials, there is a real need to our work in the UK and overseas to understand the ecology
on blanket drug administration. Reduction of reservoirs of IGH will be an international leader in food security research, understand prescribing behaviour. Antimicrobial stewardship is and epidemiology of antimicrobial resistance in animals and
zoonotic bacterial and parasitic pathogens in animal populations especially through improved control of infectious disease in key to the preservation of broad spectrum agents including those humans, examining the patterns of spread between them. By Case Study
will reduce risk to humans from food-borne pathogens. We will food producing animals, and improved food safety. critically important to human health; we need to examine how analysing current trends in resistance, prescribing patterns We have developed a novel approach for reducing the
contribute to the introduction of precision veterinary medicine and why antimicrobials are used in animals and humans, so that and behaviour we will provide evidence to guide antimicrobial reliance on antibiotics to treat life-threating infections such
by developing rapid, accurate and pen-side diagnostics. We We will seek to develop key resources at our Leahurst we can promote sustainable behaviour change towards prudent stewardship, through behaviour change. We will develop as Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Streptococcus
veterinary campus, particularly large animal and poultry interventions to reduce the risk of transmission between pneumoniae. Using in vivo models of MRSA, pneumococcal
aim to develop novel, cost-effective animal vaccines. We will use. We also need to better understand what contribution
pneumonia and sepsis, we have shown that specifically
help elucidate the mechanisms by which drug resistance facilities, and to strengthen critical mass with further antimicrobial use in animals has on the ecology of antimicrobial animals, including humans. We will continue to investigate
engineered liposomes can neutralise cytolytic bacterial toxins
develops and we will contribute to the reduction of antimicrobial appointments in microbiology and veterinary parasitology. IGH resistance in livestock and other animals, their environment and microbial ecology, particularly to understand the role of the
during disease, preventing cellular damage, inflammation and
and anthelmintic usage in animals. Our real-time surveillance will be a lead player in discussions about research resource transmission to man, to identify ways of mitigating the selection microbiome in maintaining the balance between health and
host death. In the future such treatments could be used alone
systems for animal disease can contribute to the development of allocation, through our key role in the N8 Northern Universities and transmission of antimicrobial resistance. disease, and how this may be exploited to reduce our reliance
for antibiotic-resistant infections, or in conjunction with other
national monitoring programmes for infections. Our work leads collaborative research programme on food security and on antimicrobials. This is especially important for food-borne, antibiotics for infections that lead to toxin induced severe
naturally to the development and evaluation of new management technology. We will develop the area of co-infection with regard Our contribution respiratory and sexually transmitted pathogens. inflammatory reactions (Henry et al. Nature Biotechnology.
practices, for example to control disease transmission. We will to food security, and strengthen collaborations with our key IGH will develop novel therapies against antimicrobial 2015;33:81-88).
help catalyse changes in culture, policy and practice surrounding partners, the Moredun Research, Roslin and Pirbright Institutes. resistance, focused on augmentation of host immunity,
4 5
9 10
Challenge four Diagnostic tests Challenge five Vaccines
Many people and animals remain untreated for infectious diseases because of a lack of Vaccines are the single most effective method to reduce the burden of infectious diseases in
accurate, affordable and available diagnostic tests. humans and animals, but many major diseases lack effective vaccines for their control.
The challenge and through our strong network of collaborators in the meat
For many important infections of animals and humans, both in effectiveness, risk factors for residual disease and transmission
Making better use of current diagnostic approaches, and and milk industries, we will improve the diagnosis of animal
industrialised and tropical settings, there are no vaccines. Where and exposure through post- introduction effectiveness studies
developing new ways of diagnosing infections in humans and infections including fluke, and digital dermatitis, by developing
vaccines do exist, to maximise their power and effectiveness, on rotavirus, pneumococcus and influenza.
animals are key to treating and controlling infections, both in rapid, sensitive pen-side tests that allow informed, targeted
we need to better understand the interaction between pathogens
the UK and overseas. Increasingly there is a trend towards point and prompt treatment. Diagnosis of infection at the group and
and their host, the epidemiology and disease burden of such Strategy
of care diagnostics, and automated molecular testing, which population level will allow control programmes that reduce
infections, to develop new vaccine candidates, and to evaluate IGH will undertake research to improve the effectiveness of
moves away from the traditional diagnostic methods. pathogen transmission. Through understanding the molecular
their introduction and effective delivery into populations. current vaccines and drive the development of new vaccines
We need stratified medicine diagnostic approaches, with smarter mechanisms of resistance, we will improve identification of drug
for major diseases of humans and animals.
ways of diagnosing resistant pathogens, and more targeted resistant pathogens, for example liver fluke, and develop a better
Our contribution
antimicrobial therapy, including the “start smart, then focus” understanding of the population genetics of resistance to aid in
Integrating our clinical expertise, global reach and genomics We will continue to invest in our major overseas collaborating
approach, as advocated by the Chief Medical Officer. Molecular reducing the spread of resistance within populations. To facilitate
expertise, IGH will map out the virulence determinants and units in Malawi, Kenya and India, as well as working closely
diagnostic approaches need to be more closely aligned with the delivery of diagnostics in animals and humans we have
potential vaccine candidates for key bacterial diseases of with our UK partners, including the North West Coast Academic
epidemiological data, particularly for disease outbreaks, to allow strong collaborations with industrial partners, such as EBLEX,
humans and animals around the globe, including Streptococcus Health Science Network and Liverpool Health Partners.
rapid intervention and reduce pathogen transmission. DairyCo., Zoetis, Fast Track Diagnostics, and Sepsis UK.
pneumoniae, Group A streptococcus, non-typhi Salmonella To consolidate our strengths in vaccine research, from basic
and bovine digital dermatitis. We will deepen our knowledge of biology through to phase IV implementation studies, within and
Our contribution Strategy
The challenge immune responses to develop improved products and more outside the Institute, we will establish the Liverpool Vaccine
We will develop new and improved diagnostic tests for the IGH will undertake research to develop new diagnostic tests for
Vaccines are the single most effective method to reduce the effective delivery for current vaccines against rotavirus, influenza Research Centre (LiVaRC).
major human infection syndromes, including sepsis, respiratory, diseases of humans and animals, as well as improving existing
burden of infectious diseases in humans and animals. Great and Japanese encephalitis virus. We will identify novel antigens
Case Study gastrointestinal and brain infections. We will achieve this by diagnostic tests.
successes include childhood vaccines, and the eradication to incorporate into parasite specific vaccines such as Eimeria
We have developed a novel early diagnostic test building on our excellent national and international network of Case Study
through vaccination of smallpox in humans, and rinderpest which causes coccidiosis in poultry and cattle. To furnish
for bacterial blood infections, based on optical clinical cohorts; for example the Brain Infections UK network. The use of smarter, integrated, connected health network We have shown that rotavirus diarrhoea, which kills almost
in animals. However, the challenge remains to make better vaccine programmes with information on level of efficacy
measurements of the activated partial thromboplastin Through our ZELS ZooLinK programme based in Kenya, we have systems for diagnosis of infections in humans and animals, half a million infants and young children worldwide each year,
use of the vaccines available, and develop new and improved and coverage required to make implementation economically
time (aPTT), which is part of the blood clotting cascade. already manufactured, with a commercial partner, a lateral flow for example our Health Innovation Challenge Fund project, can be prevented in the world’s poorest countries through
vaccines. Vaccine-preventable diseases in humans include viable, for example for Fasciola hepatica, we will develop better
Through guideline development with national and assay for human and porcine cysticercosis. We will build on this Fully integrated, real-time detection, diagnosis and control vaccination. Systematic and sustained work led by Liverpool
systemic infections (Group B Streptococcus, malaria), information technology systems. Furthermore, we will conduct
international bodies, this is now becoming a standard test to develop multiplexed bead-based immune-assays over the next of community diarrhoeal disease clusters and outbreaks, will over a period of 15 years confirmed the efficacy of rotavirus
respiratory infections (Streptococcus pneumoniae, influenza), disease burden studies to provide the evidence needed to
in the UK and across the world. We are developing this few years. We will also examine the behavioural and societal help us address other major challenges such as antimicrobial vaccine (Madhi et al. N Engl J Med. 2010;362:289-98), led
gastrointestinal infections (rotavirus, norovirus, Salmonella) drive the development and introduction of vaccines into the UK to a global recommendation for its use by the World Health
into a point-of-care test for routine clinical use, through factors that drive use and misuse of diagnostic tests, so that we resistance. We will develop this work, across the N8
and neurological infections (Neisseria meningitidis, Japanese and resource-limited populations, in particular for Influenza, Organization and has now demonstrated the major fiscal
a spinout company, Sepsis Ltd, which is exploiting four can ensure their better utilisation in the future. We will apply a network, and strengthen our in-house commercial diagnostic
encephalitis). In animals the leading vaccine-preventable Group B streptococcus and norovirus. Rigorous clinical trials and child health benefits of this approach in resource limited
patents and has attracted £1.45m of investment (Wada et combination of improved pathogen discovery techniques, and services (Liverpool Veterinary Parasitology Diagnostics and
infections include gastro-intestinal helminth and bacterial for influenza and malaria vaccines will provide the high quality countries (Bar-Zeev et al. Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2015;
al. J Thromb Haemostasis. 2013;4:761-67). novel approaches which examine the host response. Through Diagnosteq) and build industrial partnerships to enhance the
infections, bacterial associated mastitis, infectious causes of evidence for policy makers to make confident and informed 15:422-428).
the Small Animal Veterinary Surveillance Network (SAVSNET), impact of our research.
lameness, respiratory infections and skin disease. decisions on key vaccines. We also aim to measure cost
11 12
Developing the next generation of researchers Working in Partnership
and health practitioners Overseas Research Collaborations UK Partnerships forming strategic partnerships with local educational
As a major international research institute tackling We will continue to develop our strong local, regional, institutions, such as the Life Sciences University
Education of undergraduate and postgraduate Over the next two years we will recruit to key global health problems we have many outstanding and national partnerships, particularly with the Technical College. We will continue our award-winning
students is an essential part of our Institute. We junior and senior faculty positions, to help us international partners on five continents. We will Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, and Universities public engagement work, building on our full range
make key contributions to the undergraduate address the Global Challenges identified in continue to develop these through growth of research of Lancaster and Manchester through the N8 Northern of events, and extensive use of traditional and social
medical, veterinary and basic science this document. collaborations. In addition we will invest further in our Universities Initiative. We will continue to work closely media. To develop our public involvement programme
programmes at the University of Liverpool, key strategic institutional partnerships in Africa and with colleagues at the Universities of Oxford and we will be establishing new a Public Involvement
providing research-led teaching to inspire the Through our Athena SWAN initiative we will India, through personnel, postgraduate researcher Cambridge, the Sanger Centre, the Roslin Institute, the Panel, with representatives of patients, the public,
best undergraduates into academic careers. ensure our Institute continues to provide a studentships and exchanges. Pirbright Institute, and the Moredun Research Institute. stakeholders and end-users of our research.
supportive, family-friendly environment which
We lead a postdoctoral Masters in Research gives the strongest support to the career • The Malawi-Liverpool-Wellcome Trust Clinical To enhance our major UK clinical programmes we Policy
(MRes) programme, and will complement progression of our women. Specifically we Research Programme undertakes research on will continue to collaborate with Liverpool Health We work with many national and international policy
this by establishing a taught, principally will aim for equal gender balance on all major international disease priorities including Partners, and the North West Coast Academic Health makers, particularly the Department of Health, Public
online, Masters in Science (MSc) Course in appointment committees for staff and students, pneumonia, meningitis, tuberculosis, childhood Science Network. We will also strengthen our applied Health England, the Department for Environment, Food
Infection and Global Health. We will continue and on Institute groups and committees. diarrhoea, and HIV. We will expand our programme research by closer work with the Veterinary Medicines & Rural Affairs, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Food
to strengthen our PhD programme, through with further staff appointments Directorate, Animal and Plant Health Agency, Standards Agency, and other national Governments as
a mixture of internally and externally funded We will continue to invest in our core Department of Health, the North West Collaborations well as the World Health Organization. We will establish
places, continuing our steady growth in overall technologies including laboratories for working • The International Livestock Research Institute for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care our own “Engaging with the Policy Makers” initiative to
postgraduate student numbers, both UK/EU with high containment level pathogens, and in Kenya works to improve food security and (CLAHRC) and by developing our health data science strengthen our contributions in this area.
and International. pathogen proteomics, and to work closely reduce poverty through research for better and approaches through our role in the Farr Institute for
with the core genomics, proteomics and more sustainable use of livestock. We will support Health Informatics.
We will strengthen our support for postdoctoral imaging facilities, part of the University of postgraduate student placements here to catalyse
researchers through our mentoring scheme Liverpool Technology Directorate. We have had further collaboration, and develop further joint We will focus on developing our Industrial Partnerships
and, through the establishment of a considerable capital investment in our Institute, funding proposals, particularly around food safety and Knowledge Exchange, through increasing
Postdoctoral Society, ensuring they have more than £50 million, in the form of the Ronald and zoonotic diseases applications to Innovate UK (formerly the Technology
representation at the highest levels in the Ross Building and Innovation Centre Two Strategy Board), building on our links with human
Institute. We will continue to develop our Laboratories, situated in the Liverpool Science • We will use our dual PhD Studentship programme and veterinary pharmaceutical industries and with the
FLIGHT Programme, (Fostering Liverpool Park. Despite this, our extraordinary success with the National Institute of Mental Health and UK meat and milk levy boards and through our own
Infection and Global Health Talent) which and consequent rapid growth has meant that Neurosciences (NIMHANS) in India to expand our initiatives, supported by the University of Liverpool’s
has proved highly successful, supporting we are already filled beyond capacity. We portfolio of research in India Business Gateway.
seventeen externally-funded Fellowships since will seek to address our urgent space needs
2010. In addition, through our Tenure-Track through reuse of existing infrastructure and • We will use the appointment of a staff member Widening Participation,
Fellowship Scheme we will secure the future further capital build, including at the Leahurst at A*STAR University, Singapore, to expand our Public Engagement and Involvement
careers of our most outstanding individuals, veterinary campus where a number of our research collaborations in southeast Asia. We will build on our excellent widening participation
and attract talent from elsewhere. researchers are based. programme by extending our schools work, and
13 14
Measuring and Monitoring our Progress
We have set targets for five years ahead, and for the next REF in 2020. Our progress against these targets
will be assessed annually at our External Advisory Panel meeting.
The Institute of Infection and
Global Health is at the
forefront of the University’s research
and is a major contributor to our
outstanding international reputation.
Professor Janet Beer,
CRITERION BASELINE (average for 2012/13-2014/15) TARGET FOR 2020 Vice Chancellor, University of Liverpool
Ratio of PGR:Staff 1.7 2.0
External research income per FTE £194k £220k
CRITERION UOA1 - Medicine UOA6 – Agriculture and Veterinary
Baseline REF 2014 Target for REF 2020 Baseline REF 2014 Target for REF 2020
% research staff returned 83* >90 81* >90
% 4 STAR publications 30 >45** 42 >45**
*% IGH staff returned to REF. **As assessed by IGH panel.
CONTACTS
Institute of Infection and Global Health
University of Liverpool
8 West Derby Street
Liverpool
L69 7BE
+44 (0)151 795 9626
www.liverpool.ac.uk/infection-and-global-health
Facebook.com/IGHLiverpool
@IGHLiverpool
Institute Director
Professor Tom Solomon
Institute Manager
Dr Joanne Cummerson
INSTITUTE DEPARTMENTS
Department of Infection Biology
Department of Clinical Infection,
Microbiology and Immunology
We would like to thank the following people for contributing images to this publication;
Department of Epidemiology Raquel Medialdea Carrera (cover image) and Ellen Heinsbroek (page 10).
and Population Health
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