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Some £3.1m has been awarded by the Wellcome Trust to researchers in the UK working with the Pirbright Institute and MSD to develop a new vaccine for foot and mouth disease (FMD).
Foot and mouth has been found to be on the spread in certain regions such as East Africa, and the vaccine is aimed at being commercially affordable for farmers in impoverished regions.
“While our initial research has provided proof of concept, this funding will allow us to answer the remaining product development challenges and further improve the stability of the vaccine,” Dr Bryan Charleston, leader of the research and director of The Pirbright Institute, said.
The new vaccine is derived from non-genetic material and is intended to be easier to produce and store than previously thought possible.
Foot and mouth
Many Irish farmers will remember the outbreak of the disease in 2001, which led to the culling of animals and the postponement of St Patrick’s Day.
Cattle, sheep and pigs are all susceptible to the disease and it is highly infectious. Humans can also contract the disease, though it usually has a milder impact on people than animals.
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