MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research

We bring together researchers from a wide variety of backgrounds to work together to tackle viral threats. This diverse mix of expertise spans computational biology, molecular virology, structural biology, clinical and veterinary virology, ecology, epidemiology, evolution and vector biology.

For example, virologists investigating the atomic structure of virus particles work alongside ecologists exploring how rabies is transmitted by bats in South America, vector biologists introducing innovative mosquito control measures in Malaysia and bioinformaticians tracking the spread of SARS-CoV-2 variants. This blending of multidisciplinary approaches around a shared interest in viruses, enables Centre researchers to address the most pressing questions from multiple perspectives.

We apply an innovative multidisciplinary ‘molecules to populations’ approach to the study of viruses and the diseases they cause. This means we have unrivalled capacity and capability to undertake research studies spanning the molecular, cellular, host and population levels.

Our research activities are supported by access to a state-of-the-art combination of facilities, technologies, infrastructure and dedicated expertise. This technological capacity and capability underpins our molecules to populations approach.

This means we are able to support studies ranging from functionally characterising known and novel viruses using molecular virology approaches, handling insect vectors and infectious samples at high containment, next generation sequencing and computational biology analyses of viral genomes, through to testing of antiviral therapeutics, and supporting clinical trials.

We believe we can achieve more by working together. Our highly productive national and international partnerships span academia, pharma, public health bodies and health delivery services.

We are also committed to extending equitable global partnerships and strengthening capacity in low and middle income countries with long-term research projects designed to tackle some of the most significant viral threats to health.