Expertise, Partners, Infrastructure

The Pandemic Institute represents a rare opportunity to invest collectively in a number of partners with complementary expertise and global networks who are working towards a shared goal. It is a rare health, academic and civic partnership between:

  • University of Liverpool
  • Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine
  • Liverpool John Moores University
  • Liverpool University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust
  • Liverpool City Council
  • Liverpool City Region Combined Authority
  • Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool).

Expertise

Liverpool has a rare ecosystem of closely located experts in medical, veterinary and tropical medicine, public health, and behavioural sciences. We:

  • Identified risk factors for severe COVID-19 disease and informed UK policy through leading the UK-wide “ISARIC-4C” study of 300,000 patients hospitalised with COVID-19
  • Accelerated the development of effective treatments, including the antiviral drug, molnupiravir, through the pioneering “AGILE” clinical trial platform.
  • Developed rapid diagnostic tests for COVID-19 in partnership with the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND)
  • Established the Accelerator Research Clinic, which has conducted COVID-19 vaccine trials for AstraZeneca and developed pneumococcal vaccines for Pfizer
  • Led the UK research response to other emerging threats including Ebola, Zika, dengue and Japanese encephalitis.

Partnerships

Liverpool’s unique civic, scientific and health partnerships have saved lives. We:

  • Pioneered the world’s first city-wide COVID-19 asymptomatic mass testing programme, leading to a 25% reduction in hospital admissions, and informing national and global policy
  • Organised the “First Dance” party weekend as part of the events research programme, to show how mass public events could occur safely after COVID-19 lockdowns and help re-open the economy
  • Established the world’s first Civic Data Cooperative which links data on testing, hospital admissions and GP practice, to inform complex activities such as COVID-19 community testing.

Infrastructure

Liverpool has a critical mass of civic and research organisations working closely together:

  • We are one of only five National Health Service High Consequences Infectious Disease Units in the UK, which can safely treat patients infected with the most dangerous pathogens
  • Liverpool is recognised by the UK Government Department for Business and Trade as an area of high potential investment opportunity for vaccine development and manufacture
  • The city is home to the world’s richest global dataset of zoonotic pathogens, hosts and locations, which can predict those most likely to cause future outbreaks.
Steve Rotheram pictured on a street in Liverpool

There are few places that can claim to have made a bigger impact on global health than the Liverpool City Region. A trailblazer in infection control for more than 125 years, we have built an enviable reputation as home to some of the world’s greatest scientific minds - and it is a legacy we’re proud to be continuing today.

Steve Rotheram – Mayor of the Liverpool City Region

Back to: The Pandemic Institute