Facing infection together
As the world reels from the health, social and economic impacts of COVID-19, infection is consuming our collective consciousness like never before. Despite incredible progress, infectious diseases remain a devastating global challenge. Endemic and epidemic diseases such as malaria, influenza and tuberculosis continue to claim millions of lives. And COVID-19 is simply the latest in a continuing series of emerging infections, including SARS, Ebola, and Zika. On top of the looming threat of the next outbreak, the spread of drug resistance means that once-treatable infections require new solutions.
At Imperial, we know the answer lies in interdisciplinary collaboration, and are known for applying this approach effectively to global challenges. Building on these foundations, our new Institute of Infection is uniting clinical, medical, engineering, natural science, and economic researchers to transform the way infection is studied, taught and mitigated around the world. As we launch this bold new initiative, we are calling on our friends, partners and alumni to help us realise its full, and exciting, potential.
Through the Institute of Infection, we are breaking down traditional departmental silos, instead training and empowering our people to work at the interface of their fields, which is where the solutions to our current and future infection challenges lie. We are connecting and growing a powerful network operating across specialties, industries and borders to turn fundamental discoveries into interventions that will save and improve lives.
Find out more in our introduction to the Institute of Infection.
Our four priority areas
Understanding infection
We will better understand infection through fundamental scientific research. We will use cell biology, structural biology and the biology of the infectious agent to examine the ways that infections from viruses, bacteria, fungi or parasites develop as well as the immune responses and human physiology they provoke.
Finding infection
We will transform the way we find infection by harnessing Imperial’s unique strengths in molecular biology, bioengineering and technology development to create faster, more sensitive and more affordable diagnostic tests for better surveillance and early intervention.
Priorities 2
Treating infection
We will treat infections better by rationalizing antibiotic use, as well as by developing new antimicrobials, antivirals, and treatments for chronic infections, improving healthcare for both individuals and populations. Strong collaborations with our partner NHS trusts underpin this, and we are currently working with Imperial College Healthcare in particular to expand capability in clinical infection research through the proposed Fleming Centre for Clinical Infection Research.
Preventing infection
We will help prevent infection by integrating our institutional expertise across epidemiology, molecular biology, data analytics and clinical trials to drive the discovery of new vaccine targets, technologies, manufacturing and distribution methods, for current and future disease threats.
Becoming a donor
We’d love to tell you more and answer any questions you have about the Institute of Infection. To discuss how your generosity can make a difference, please talk to Rowena Morgan (Deputy Director of Development, Medicine) on +44 (0)7525 313 712 or email rowena.morgan@imperial.ac.uk