Exeter University joins forces with UK government facilities to tackle high level infectious threats

The University of Exeter is a key partner in the newly launched Wessex One Health (WOH) Doctoral Partnership , which will train a new generation of experts in the bioscience of infection.

Led by Professor Gill Elliott at the University of Surrey, the new partnership is funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) and brings together the Universities of Exeter, Surrey and Sussex along with all level four UK government research facilities with the capabilities to study infectious disease (Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, UK Health Security Agency, Animal and Plant Health Agency and Pirbright). Together, they will seek to address the escalating threats posed by infectious diseases through a “One Health” approach which brings together the disciplines of human, animal, and environmental health.

In Exeter, the partnership is via the University Medical Research Council Centre for Medical Mycology (MRC CMM), which will provide expertise as the largest international centre of excellence for interdisciplinary fungal diseases research worldwide.

Professor William Horsnell, Co-Lead from the University of Exeter, expressed excitement about the collaboration, stating: “The Wessex One Health initiative represents a transformational step toward global infectious disease preparedness. Exeter’s commitment to advancing fungal disease research will significantly enrich this programme, giving students and UK government institutions access to expertise in medical mycology that spans continents and pushes the boundaries of infection bioscience.”

The new Wessex One Health partnership will enable students to work with uniquely experienced researchers in infection and immunity, equipping them to confront health challenges with the highest threat to public health, including emerging infections and antimicrobial resistance. Exeter’s MRC CMM will specifically contribute its unique expertise in medical mycology, which will be complemented by its satellite sites in Africa and South America. This adds critical capacity and a global perspective to the programme.

Through this collaborative doctoral partnership, students will receive comprehensive training in high-demand skills such as data science, high-containment pathogen research, and interdisciplinary scientific management. Exeter’s involvement will provide invaluable cross-disciplinary resources, preparing students for impactful careers in academia, industry, and government.

Set to launch in October 2025, the Wessex One Health Doctoral Partnership will nurture a diverse cohort of up to 20 students each year by fostering a unified identity and robust network of future scientific leaders ready to respond to infectious disease threats in an interconnected world.