The UK government has announced £33.2 million in funding for eight vaccine projects targeting some of the world's deadliest infectious diseases, as part of efforts to strengthen pandemic preparedness and protect people globally. The announcement was made on 8 October 2026 by the Department of Health and Social Care, UK Health Security Agency, Innovate UK, and Health Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment Chris McDonald.

The funding will support research, clinical trials, and technical capability to develop, test, and deploy vaccines at speed when new health threats emerge. According to the announcement, infectious diseases do not respect borders, and outbreaks overseas can escalate quickly and pose risks to people in the UK and abroad.

Eight Projects Target Priority Pathogens

The eight projects will focus on diseases including Ebola, plague, Marburg, Lassa fever, Nipah virus, chikungunya, and Mayaro. The funding will advance promising vaccines, clinical trials, and technologies that can make vaccine design and manufacture faster and more effective.

The timing of the announcement reflects ongoing global health threats. Ebola has an average case-fatality rate of around 50%, according to the government. Marburg outbreaks were reported in Rwanda in 2024 and Tanzania in 2025, with no approved Marburg vaccine or antiviral treatment currently available. Recent reports of a suspected pneumonic plague case linked to a laboratory worker's death in Russia's Irkutsk region, with nearly 200 contacts placed under precautionary medical observation, underscore the persistent risks posed by serious infectious diseases worldwide.

Delivery Through UK Vaccine Network and Innovate UK

The Department of Health and Social Care is delivering the awards through the UK Vaccine Network, which accelerates vaccine development against diseases with epidemic potential. The government is working with Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), to deliver the funding.

The government is combining domestic investment with official development assistance (ODA), which supports the economic development and welfare of eligible developing countries. Five of the eight projects will be funded through ODA.

Claire Spooner, Director of Innovation as a Service at Innovate UK, said: "Innovation is essential to combat the future threat of emerging infectious diseases. These projects, delivered by Innovate UK on behalf of the DHSC UK Vaccine Network programme, bring together cutting-edge science, technical expertise and international collaboration to advance vaccine development for priority pathogens. Together, they will strengthen pandemic preparedness and contribute to global health security."

Building on COVID-19 Vaccine Success

The UK Vaccine Network programme has previously demonstrated its value, having supported the development of the Oxford/AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine. The latest investment aims to help researchers respond more quickly to future threats and build the capability needed to develop, test, and deploy vaccines at speed.

Health Minister for Science, Innovation and Investment Chris McDonald said: "The world remains at risk from new and re-emerging infectious diseases, and outbreaks overseas can quickly become threats to people here at home. This £33.2 million investment will back leading scientists to develop and deploy vaccines faster and strengthen our pandemic preparedness while supporting our world-leading life sciences sector. By investing before a crisis hits, we can better protect the public, save lives and ensure the UK is ready to respond to future threats."

Chief Medical Officer for England, Professor Sir Chris Whitty, added: "These projects aim to prevent some of the most dangerous infectious diseases in the world today. The development of safe and effective vaccines for these diseases will strengthen our ability to protect people around the world."

Global Health Security and UK Resilience

The new awards will help make vaccines affordable, accessible, and ready for use in countries at greatest risk. According to the UK Health Security Agency, the investment supports both international efforts to stop outbreaks and domestic readiness.

Richard Pebody, Director of Epidemic and Emerging Infections at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), said: "The ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a reminder that emerging infectious diseases are not a distant threat. UKHSA plays a critical role in responding to disease outbreaks, both at home and through our work with international partners. But preparedness, detection and response are only part of the picture. Having effective vaccines and the manufacturing capability to produce them at speed is essential. This investment will help ensure that the UK is ready to respond quickly and effectively to a range of emerging health threats. By working in partnership with affected countries we can help stop outbreaks, protect vulnerable populations and make the world, including the UK, safer from future epidemic and pandemic threats."