New partnership to advance RNA vaccines for livestock

RNA vaccines offer several advantages for livestock disease prevention and control, including rapid development timelines, the ability to generate broad immune responses, and a more targeted approach to specific viral proteins. 

Joining forces with CVIM, the collaboration will generate knowledge that will advance veterinary vaccines, as well as potentially inform future human vaccine development, supporting a One Health approach. 

As part of the collaboration, a CPI scientist is expected to visit Pirbright in September 2025 to support ongoing RNA vaccine development efforts and explore ways to enhance candidate evaluation.

Through our RNA Centre of Excellence, CPI will bring world-class expertise in RNA-based vaccine development, scale-up, and Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) production, alongside specialist training and formulation capabilities.

CVIM brings expertise in livestock disease, molecular biology, and the development and evaluation of veterinary vaccines, including in vivo studies. The collaboration will see the sharing of knowledge and expertise and support the evaluation of RNA vaccine candidates for use in livestock.

CVIM is a GMP facility currently under construction at Pirbright which will be operational in early 2026. The Centre will support the development and deployment of vaccine technologies to combat neglected and emerging diseases of livestock, including zoonotic diseases that represent a threat to public health. The facility is supported by funding from the Gates Foundation, the Foreign Commonwealth Development Office and the UKRI Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC).

Brendan Fish, Director of Biologics and the RNA Centre at CPI said:

“We’re proud to be partnering with CVIM and The Pirbright Institute to accelerate the development of RNA vaccines for livestock. This collaboration brings together complementary expertise from CPI’s capabilities in RNA technology and GMP manufacturing, and Pirbright’s world-class knowledge of animal health. By bringing together the strengths of both organisations we, are creating a collaborative force that is far greater than the sum of its parts – unlocking new and innovative vaccines for animal health and accelerating innovation in ways that neither could achieve alone.”

Professor Bryan Charleston MRCVS FRS, Director of The Pirbright Institute, said:

“This is an exciting new partnership for Pirbright and CVIM. CPI’s expertise in RNA technology complements our deep understanding of livestock diseases. Together, we hope to accelerate the development of effective, scalable RNA vaccines for animal health.”