Medical Research Council

IIB programme

The following section outlines the portfolio areas and strategic initiatives covered by the Infections and Immunity Board. It also includes links to more in depth information on IIB strategic reviews and initiatives.

This page describes the main portfolio areas for which the Infections and Immunity Board is responsible. Details on who to contact at the MRC for each of these areas are available on the contacts page.

The Board's priorities and activities in the following areas are described on this page:

Accelerating vaccines research
Advancing understanding of human immunology
Public Health Infections
Microbiology and antimicrobial resistance
Global Health Infections
Working in partnership
Recent Calls and Highlight Notices
MRC Centres, Units and Institutes

Accelerating vaccines research

The MRC’s current contribution to vaccines research is focused mainly on discovery of immunogenic targets and Phase 3 clinical trials, with a portfolio including influenzae, neisseria meningitidis, HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C. Vaccines research will continue to be a key priority for IIB and the Board will soon be reviewing whether there are opportunities to strengthen UK research in this area.

The MRC’s grant funding schemes can support research on

novel immunogens and vaccine delivery strategies
basic research on pathogen biology, the immune system, and infection models leading to novel and improved candidates
clinical research, e.g. on susceptibility, virulence and pathogenicity, biomarkers relevant to protection
epidemiology
clinical trials, including Phase 1 and 2 trials and vaccine combinations.

The Developmental Pathway Funding Scheme and Developmental Clinical Studies schemes continue to be important routes for supporting late stage translational vaccine research.

Advancing understanding of human immunology

The MRC Strategic Review of Human Immunology, published in 2008, identified a number of key scientific gaps and highlighted the opportunities from advances in structural biology, genome sequencing, animal and in vitro models, imaging, systems medicine, informatics and the availability of well characterised cohorts and the NHS. IIB continues to encourage researchers to address these questions through the standard MRC grant schemes.

Understanding more about the life course experience of the human immune system at a systems level and how this relates to the susceptibility to and development of diseases is a major challenge. The Board is considering how best to advance our understanding in this area.

Public Health Infections

The joint MRC/NIHR Public Health Infections Strategy (published in May 2010) describes an integrated national approach to infectious diseases research that reflects the public health needs of the UK and the relative strengths of the UK health research community. The strategy has four strategic aims:

1. Action against emerging dangers

2. Understanding susceptibility and vulnerability to infectious disease

3. Demonstrating benefit and future-proofing against infection

4. New look – new paradigms: fostering innovation in detection, treatment, and prevention – moving away from pathogen specific approaches

IIB encourages researchers to address these strategic aims, together with those identified in the 2008 Strategic Review of Virology through the standard MRC grant schemes. Influenza research remains a strategic priority for IIB.

Microbiology and antimicrobial resistance

The UKCRC Translational Infection Research Initiative was launched in 2007 with a commitment of £16.5m from a consortium of seven funders, led by MRC. The Initiative is fostering multi-disciplinary collaboration, boosting research infrastructure, and promoting training and career development in translational microbiology through two routes:

Strategy Development Grants – five awarded in 2008 to develop new partnerships and improved research bids
Consortium Grants – four grants to support new research partnerships have been awarded to date

MRC has also worked in partnership with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research Institute of Infection and Immunity to develop the Canada-UK Joint Partnership on Antibiotic Resistance, which aims to build on existing collaborations by providing support for consortia tackling the problem of antibiotic resistance. Two Consortium Grants totalling £4m were awarded in May 2011

Building on these strategic initiatives, IIB welcomes applications in bacteriology and fungal disease research.

Global Health Infections

The MRC has a long commitment to global health research that addresses the inequalities in health which arise particularly in developing countries.

The IIB “global infections” portfolio spans the spectrum from basic research through to epidemiology and early phase clinical trials in Africa. Whilst we aim to continue our strong support for research which tackles the major infections HIV, TB, malaria, the Board is keen to encourage high quality, innovative, translational research in the neglected tropical diseases which have a heavy impact on the health and wellbeing of populations in resource poor settings.

In addition to research supported through Universities and MRC Units and Institutes in the UK, we deliver research through two Units in Africa, in Uganda and The Gambia, which work closely with government and other national institutions, regional networks and local communities. Click here for a link to Improving Health, Improving Lives to learn more.

Working in partnership

Research in developing countries is particularly dependent on partnerships. For instance, our partnership with DfID strengthens the “research pipeline,” delivering products and informing health policies and practice.

Through the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP), the MRC and Department for International Development have supported European and African collaboration on drug and vaccine trials for HIV, TB and malaria. This programme brings together 16 European countries which together spend €200m in this area, along with €200m from the Commission itself.

The MRC’s research strategy is coordinated with the DFID, the Wellcome Trust and the Economic and Social Research Council through a funders’ forum for health research in developing countries.