An Addenbrooke's infectious diseases expert is part of a UK wide team helping in the fight against monkeypox, by developing better testing and treatments.
Professor Mike Weekes, from the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research and Department of Medicine, will be helping to tackle the UK outbreak with fellow Cambridge scientist Professor Geoffrey Smith from the Department of Pathology.
Cambridge is among 12 institutions across the UK that will be working together to develop better diagnostic tests, potential therapies and study vaccine effectiveness and the virus’ spread.
The consortium has received £2 million from the Biotechnology and Biosciences Research Council (opens in a new tab) and the Medical Research Council (opens in a new tab), both part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).
It is led by the Pirbright Institute (opens in a new tab) and the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (opens in a new tab).
Researchers will work closely with experts at Government agencies – the Animal and Plant Health Agency, UK Health Security Agency, and Defence Science and Technology Laboratory – to study the current outbreak and inform the public health response in the UK and internationally.
Professor Weekes, who was awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic said:
Monkeypox, and its rapid spread across the globe, presents another major challenge for clinicians and scientists.
Professor Mike Weekes
He added:
"Although we have an effective vaccine and treatment, global roll-out has so far proved challenging, emphasising the importance of a comprehensive understanding of this virus.
"The UK consortium includes researchers from multiple different disciplines, and I anticipate the data we generate will rapidly help understand how the virus can be targeted in new ways to prevent disease."
In the UK there have been more than 3,400 confirmed cases (opens in a new tab) since May, although case numbers are currently falling.
Internationally, WHO reports (opens in a new tab) it has spread to 106 countries and territories with 25 confirmed deaths.
Professor Melanie Welham, executive chair of BBSRC, said:
One of the real strengths of the UK’s scientific response to disease outbreaks is the way that we can draw on leading researchers from all over the country, who can pool their expertise to deliver results, fast.
Professor Melanie Welham
“This new national consortium will study the unprecedented monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. This will feed rapidly into global public health strategies, developing new diagnostic tests and identifying potential therapies.”
The monkeypox virus outbreak originated in West Africa.
The current worldwide outbreak of cases spreading outside this area was first identified in May 2022.