The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has released a new tool that will help research and development efforts of diagnostics, vaccines, and treatments for priority pathogens that pose the greatest risk to public health
The new “Priority Pathogens” reference tool identifies 24 pathogen families that UKHSA believes require focused attention to enhance preparedness for potential health threats.
Protecting public health
This new tool will help protect public health as it combines global and UK-specific considerations. The tool provides a detailed look at which pathogen families might be the biggest challenges to public health, from both current risks and potential future threats. By doing this, it plans to direct funding and research toward areas where breakthroughs could have the most impact on public health security.
The list of 24 pathogen families includes those responsible for diseases such as COVID-19, influenza, and Nipah virus. Each of these pathogen families is assessed for its potential to cause future pandemics or epidemics.
To help prioritise research efforts, UKHSA has categorised these families with ratings of high, moderate, or low based on their epidemic or pandemic potential.
These ratings are not intended to predict which pathogen will cause the next pandemic but instead identify where increased investment in diagnostics, vaccines, and therapeutics is needed.
Recognising important pathogen families
The tools show the importance of continued research into pathogens, even outside of the 24 families included in the list. While these 24 families are seen as the most critical for research efforts at the moment, the tool makes it clear that pathogens not included in the list also remain a vital area of study.
One of the most notable families identified are the Coronaviridae family, which includes the virus responsible for COVID-19, and the Paramyxoviridae family, which includes Nipah virus. Another important family highlighted is Orthomyxoviridae, which includes various strains of avian influenza. All of these families are recognised for their potential to cause severe disease outbreaks and for their ability to adapt to changes in the environment, such as those brought on by climate change or antimicrobial resistance.
Preparing for potential health risks
The tool is designed to help direct scientific research where it is most needed to address these health risks. UKHSA sees this as part of a wider strategy to build resilience and ensure that the UK is prepared for any biological threats that may emerge.
The aim is to speed up the development of vaccines and diagnostic tools, particularly in cases where urgent action is required.
The reference tool is there to act as a snapshot that reflects the current state of knowledge and research priorities instead of serving as a comprehensive threat assessment or ranking of pathogen families.
UKHSA emphasises that the list is a living document and will be updated annually to reflect changes in epidemiology and scientific progress. This ensures that the information remains relevant as new threats emerge and as research and technology evolve.
The UKHSA’s Vaccine Development and Evaluation Centre, along with its Diagnostic Accelerator, works closely with the scientific community, academia, and industry to identify emerging pathogens and develop strategies to combat them. The Priority Pathogens tool is one of several initiatives designed to strengthen the UK’s biological security and ensure a swift response to future health challenges.
