This week Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, The Rt Honourable Pat McFadden MP, visited The Pandemic Institute in Liverpool. His visit coincided with the Government’s announcement to carry out the largest ever national pandemic response exercise to strengthen against future threats.

The national pandemic exercise, which will take place over several months this Autumn, is the first of its kind in nearly a decade and is set to be the biggest in UK history. It will test the country’s capabilities, plans, protocols and procedures in the event of another major pandemic, and will be led by senior ministers, involve thousands of participants, and run across all regions and nations of the UK.

During his time in Liverpool, The Rt Honourable Pat McFadden MP met with a number of key people from across The Pandemic Institute partnership, including Professor Tim Jones, Vice-Chancellor of University of Liverpool, Professor Louise Kenny, Executive Pro Vice Chancellor of the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences at University of Liverpool, Professor Richard Fitzgerald, Director of the Clinical Research Facility at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital, and Professor David Lalloo, Vice-Chancellor of Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine.

Professor Tom Solomon, Director of The Pandemic Institute, gave an overview of the Institute’s work and its ambitions for the future, leading a tour across founding partner’s facilities:

“The Pandemic Institute opened in 2021 building on decades of excellent research in Liverpool in emerging infections and pandemic threats. We have developed new diagnostic tests, treatments, and vaccines for emerging infections and also strengthened research infrastructure.”

“It was a pleasure to host the right honourable Pat McFadden MP, update him on the ongoing work at The Pandemic Institute, and discuss our planed Pandemic Preparedness and Response Facility which is being developed with government funding.”

During the visit, researchers currently working on a vaccine to combat the Zika virus and colleagues who played an instrumental role in Liverpool’s response to Covid-19 demonstrated their work. The NIHR Liverpool Clinical Research Facility at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital was also showcased. Here Professor Richard FitzGerald talked about the Covid-19 clinical trials and first in human clinical trial of the Zika vaccine.

The visit concluded in Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine’s new Human Challenge Facility, which is due to open this year. The facility is one of the largest non-commercial facilities of its kind, with the potential to speed up vaccine development by working with volunteers to test new vaccines and treatments under controlled conditions.

Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, The Rt Honourable Pat McFadden MP, said: “

“We must learn lessons from the Covid pandemic as we cannot afford to make the same mistakes again. But we will plan in a way that recognises the next crisis may not be the same as the last.”

“We agree with the Covid-19 Inquiry that more needs to be done and are announcing measures to make sure that we are as prepared as possible for future pandemics.”

“These changes will improve our resilience and preparedness and help to safeguard our citizens.”

More about The Pandemic Institute (TPI)
Established in 2021, The Pandemic Institute is a unique collaboration of academic, health and civic partners in Liverpool with a global mission to tackle emerging infections and pandemic threats. Launched with an initial philanthropic donation of £10m in 2021, The Pandemic Institute has established over £5M in industry partnerships, invested over £5.6M in critical pandemic research and infrastructure, and through our partner organisations our investigators hold research portfolios totalling £50M.  Innovation Zone funding will help build a new Pandemic Preparedness and Response Facility in Liverpool, containing state-of-the-art research laboratories that will strengthen the UK’s infectious disease research and innovation capabilities.

Founding partners:
University of Liverpool
Liverpool City Council
Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
Liverpool John Moores University
Knowledge Quarter Liverpool
NHS University Hospitals of Liverpool Group
Liverpool City Region

Photo: Celine Charles, Cabinet Office