Changing pathogens in a changing world

An initial meeting in March 2023 was organised in partnership with Cambridge Infectious Diseases and Cambridge Zero, on "Evidence-based solutions to the impact of climate change on emerging diseases. The goal of the meeting was to identify challenges for multisectoral research projects at the interface of environmental science, conservation and epidemiology. The workshop included scientists, policy makers, community leaders, NGOs and charities.

Following discussions in the first meeting, a second event took place in September 2023 focussed on ‘The Changing Landscape of UK Vector Borne Disease’, bringing together 43 researchers from across 16 University Departments and Institutes, as well as representatives from the Pirbright Institute, UK Health Security Agency, the Animal and Plant Health Agency and the British Trust of Ornithology. This meeting explored the emerging (and re-emerging) threat of vector borne diseases, particularly in response to climate change, which is altering the distribution and behaviour of disease transmitting vectors, such as mosquitoes and ticks.

A third meeting was held in December 2023 focussing on how approaches from different disciplines can best be utilised to tackle epidemic threats. Speakers and attendees from 7 Departments engaged in discussions on epidemic preparedness, exploring diverse perspectives from multiple disciplines, and established an interdisciplinary collaborative network of expertise in this area.

Delivering meaningful solutions to arising infectious disease challenges requires partnership and engagement with communities and researchers in the areas that are most affected, which are often in the Global South. We are working with researchers across Cambridge to exchange knowledge and experience in global infectious disease research and will be supporting more Cambridge colleagues to initiate equitable research programmes with partners in the Global South.

The Changing Landscape of UK Vector Borne Disease, September 2023