FinancialCentre reports – UK Aid Funding to support Zika virus vaccine development at The University of Nottingham

London, UK, 4th March 2022, ZEXPRWIREVaccines are substances that help the body develop immunity to a disease. They contain very small amounts of weakened or dead germs, which cause diseases such as measles, mumps, or rubella (German measles). The vaccines cannot cause these diseases because the germs in them have been made harmless.

FinancialCentre Broker Ben Martin says that vaccines have recently attracted a lot of attention in the media, particularly after covid. This is because some people are concerned that their children may have been harmed by them or that vaccines give you the disease they are meant to protect against. Some groups of people even believe that vaccinations should not be done at all. A vaccine contains very small amounts of antigens that cause disease. These antigens make the body’s immune system produce antibodies that fight off those diseases.

Zika Virus

Zika virus is generally transmitted by mosquitoes, and, for most people, it is a minor condition with no long-term complications. However, during pregnancy, it may cause birth defects such as smaller-than-average heads (microcephaly). Zika Virus has also been associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome. The virus is spreading across Central and South America. Hundreds of babies have already been born with the condition since 2015.

There’s no vaccine or medicine that can prevent Zika Virus infections yet, but several are currently being tested.

Mr. Martin said that Zika has not been identified in the United Kingdom; it has been discovered in various countries throughout the world, including the Pacific region, Africa, and the Caribbean. A Zika virus vaccine would aid in the reduction of transmission and offer strong protection.

Researchers in Nottingham have been given £462,462 from UK Aid funding for vaccine development against deadly viruses to combat the Zika virus. The University of Nottingham is one of 22 organisations that have been chosen by the Department of Health and Social Care’s (DHSC) UK Vaccine Network (UKVN) to start a vaccine project worth £7.8 million under Innovate UK, according to a press release. The UK Vaccine Network was formed to counteract market failure in vaccine research and development. The Global Fund disburses money to fund vaccine research in order to combat deadly epidemics that may spread in low- and middle-income countries.

The study is being conducted by Dr. James Dixon of the University of Nottingham’s School of Pharmacy and Biodiscovery Institute (BDI) in collaboration with Professor Janet Daly, Professor of Viral Zoonoses, and Professor Emeritus Stanley Prusiner from the University of California at San Diego. It will be directed mostly on a brand-new DNA Zika virus vaccine approach that may help people acquire safe and protective immunities.

What does it show?

Mr. Martin said that the UK’s step to fund Zika Virus vaccine development in Nottingham is a promising step towards the fight against this disease. The rapid progress of countries such as Brazil and Colombia should be enough to encourage other nations to help with vaccine research and vaccine development. This would greatly reduce the risk of serious neurological problems caused by the virus among pregnant women and unborn babies.

Zika Virus has been associated with Guillain–Barré syndrome in adults, which has led to paralysis in some cases. Mr. Martin said that companies like GSK (GSK) and Sanofi (SNY), who are vaccine developers, should make their priority the Zika Virus research for commercial purposes. This would result both in commercial success and prevent potentially fatal epidemics. Also, private donors should help with Zika Virus vaccine development since the benefits of developing a vaccine against Zika would be shared by everyone.

He also said that the development of the Zika Virus Vaccine will be very important for the future of our children and will prevent them from more significant damage. It will also direct our attention to more dangerous diseases that require immediate attention. Also, the vaccine will provide a stable source of income for companies that develop it. The money invested in research should be used to create a safe and effective vaccine against the Zika Virus as well as other diseases such as Ebola, SARS, and MERS, which have already been identified. Also, he added that any kind of support from private donors, companies, and international organisations should be provided to help with Zika Virus vaccine development.

The economic gains from such steps?

Mr. Martin added that vaccine research and development is not only an effort to protect people here in the United Kingdom; it’s also support for countries with lower incomes by offering them effective vaccines against various tropical diseases like Zika, malaria, yellow fever, etc. This would result in increased productivity of local workers due to their reduced susceptibility to these infectious diseases. This would, in turn, benefit the local economy and create a feeling of stability in the community.

Mr. Martin also added that vaccine research is an important step towards the development of new drug treatments for various diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C virus (HCV), etc. In conclusion, Zika Virus is a severe problem, especially in South America, that requires immediate vaccine development. Researchers have made a promising start on an effective DNA-based Zika virus vaccine, which may soon result in protection against this disease.

Disclaimer: Our content is intended to be used for informational purposes only. It is very important to do your own research before making any investment based on your own personal circumstances. You should take independent financial advice from a professional in connection with, or independently research and verify, any information that you find on this article and wish to rely upon, whether for the purpose of making an investment decision or otherwise.

Published On: March 4, 2022