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UK launches £1.5M Hub to strengthen vector-borne disease research and policyLink to UK launches £1.5M Hub to strengthen vector-borne disease research and policy

A centralized platform for vector-borne disease data

The UK research community has secured £1.5 million in funding from Defra and UK Research and Innovation (via the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) to establish the One Health Vector-Borne Diseases Hub. Led by Imperial College London in partnership with The Pirbright Institute, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, University of Liverpool and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, this hub will provide a unified access point for diverse datasets on diseases transmitted by mosquitoes, ticks, mites and other vectors.

Why a One Health approach matters

Vector-borne diseases (VBDs) such as Lyme disease, bluetongue and louping ill already affect human, animal and plant health across the UK. With climate warming and shifting land-use patterns, exotic threats like West Nile and Usutu viruses are predicted to spread into temperate regions. By adopting a One Health framework, the new data hub will integrate human, veterinary and ecological information. Allowing researchers and policymakers to understand how environmental changes drive VBD emergence and transmission.

A mosquito on a leaf
A mosquito on a leaf

Streamlining data sharing and collaborationLink to Streamlining data sharing and collaboration

Currently, crucial VBD data reside in separate silos: agricultural surveillance, public health records, genetic sequencing and epidemiological models are stored on different platforms. The Hub will develop secure, user-friendly infrastructure to connect these resources, enabling:

  • Cross-sector forecasting: rapid sharing of climate, land-use and vector monitoring data to power next-generation risk models
  • Policy-ready insights: streamlined workflows for translating scientific findings into actionable guidance for government and industry
  • Network building: online tools and events to link academics, public health officials and commercial partners
“To respond effectively to vector-borne threats, we need seamless access to data on hosts, vectors and the environment,” says Dr Lauren Cator (Imperial College London). “This hub will accelerate our ability to predict, prevent and respond to outbreaks.”

Enhancing forecasting and rapid responseLink to Enhancing forecasting and rapid response

Co-Investigator Dr Steven White (UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology) highlights the importance of cutting-edge models:

“VBDs pose a significant threat now and in the future. This new data hub will help us build, test and share forecasting tools more efficiently. So we can rapidly inform public health and veterinary responses.”

The Hub will also host training workshops and webinars. Equipping researchers, practitioners and policymakers with the skills to leverage large-scale datasets for real-time decision-making.

Building networks and capacityLink to Building networks and capacity

Beyond technology, the Hub seeks to strengthen relationships across the UK VBD community. Plans include:

  • Training sessions and conferences to foster interdisciplinary collaboration
  • A dynamic web platform (developed with Global Vector Hub) for matchmaking between academia and industry
  • A community forum to create a centralised open access space for any questions and discussions on topics related to vector-borne diseases
  • Engagement with government stakeholders to ensure data outputs align with policy needs
“This resource exemplifies how collective effort can outpace isolated initiatives,” adds Dr Hannah Vineer (University of Liverpool). “By uniting expertise across human, animal and plant sciences, we’ll be ready to tackle outbreaks as they arise.”

Looking aheadLink to Looking ahead

As the Hub’s infrastructure comes online, UK researchers will gain unprecedented capacity to monitor emerging vector-borne threats, forecast disease risk and inform mitigation strategies. This initiative marks a critical step toward a data-driven future in managing mosquito, tick and mite-transmitted infections under a changing climate.

Ready to join the conversation? Stay tuned to the VBD Hub blog for updates on Hub launches, training opportunities and collaborative funding calls.