Finding solutions to prevent, treat and cure infectious diseases and understanding the complexities of microbes and the immune system requires innovative approaches and concentrated effort. This is why the University of Melbourne – a world leader in education, teaching and research excellence – and The Royal Melbourne Hospital – an internationally renowned institution providing outstanding care, research and learning –partnered to create the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute); a centre of excellence where leading scientists and clinicians collaborate to improve human health globally.

The Microbiology, Immunology and Pathology (MIP) Department is comprised of over 400 individuals who share a common passion for solving some of the most important human and animal health problems today. Research programs include those related to mycobacteria, retroviruses, prions, and arthropod-borne infectious diseases, as well as the diagnostic investigation of naturally-occurring animal diseases. A leader in education, MIP provides the only microbiology undergraduate degree program in Colorado, a graduate program that provides training in a number of cutting-edge disciplines, and several specialized veterinary residency training programs.

The Institute of Human Virology (IHV) is the first center in the United States – perhaps the world – to combine the disciplines of basic science, epidemiology and clinical research in a concerted effort to speed the discovery of diagnostics and therapeutics for a wide variety of chronic and deadly viral and immune disorders – most notably HIV, the cause of AIDS. Formed in 1996 as a partnership between the State of Maryland, the City of Baltimore, the University System of Maryland and the University of Maryland Medical System, IHV is an institute of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and is home to some of the most globally-recognized and world-renowned experts in the field of human virology.

Over the last five years, the URMC has garnered more than $1.18 billion in biomedical research funding, common and rare illnesses, landing the University in the top 26th percentile of U.S. medical centers in Federal research funding. Coupled with one million square feet of state-of-the-art research space, and high-end support services and shared resources, we’re building upon this strong legacy of research every day. Our scientists contributed vaccine technology: HPV vaccine, protecting against cervical cancer, newborns worldwide receive a vaccine that URMC researchers created against Haemophilus influenza type B (Hib), virtually wiping out a leading cause of meningitis in preschoolers. And we conducted the first pivotal, H5N1 bird flu efficacious and safety study, and ready to administer if faced with a pandemic. The Medical Center also has a long history in HIV research, being one of the first sites in the United States to conduct HIV vaccine studies. The NIH-sponsored University of Rochester HIV/AIDS Clinical Trials Unit, or The Rochester Victory Alliance, participated in more than 275 HIV treatment and vaccine trials, enrolling upwards of 3,500 volunteers since 1987.

The Pirbright Institute is a world leading centre of excellence in research and surveillance of virus diseases of farm animals and viruses that spread from animals to humans. We receive strategic funding from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), and work to enhance capability to contain, control and eliminate these economically and medically important diseases through highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience. The Institute employs around 450 staff plus research students and visiting scientists. and has recently moved to one campus in Pirbright, Surrey, where investment by BBSRC has resulted in a redevelopment of the site and the construction of a high level biosecurity facility – the BBSRC National Virology Centre: The Plowright Building and a containment level two facility, The Jenner Building.
The Pirbright Institute provides the UK with capacity to predict, detect, understand and respond to the threat and potential attack of serious viral diseases of livestock and viruses that spread from animals to humans. These viral diseases may not be present in the UK (endemic) and only circulating abroad (exotic).The Institute’s science strategy is delivered through three strategic programmes: Avian Viral Diseases; Livestock Viral diseases and Vector-borne Viral Diseases.

The CWOHC provides a unique opportunity for UW, Colombian, and international institutions to demonstrate leadership and have an impact in viral diseases affecting both human and animal health in Latin American countries. Professor Osorio is a global expert on the study of emerging viral diseases and has conducted field and laboratory studies on many emerging pathogens, including dengue, Zika, chikungunya, influenza, rabies, west Nile, enteroviruses, monkeypox among others. The Universidad Nacional (UN) is ranked among the best universities in the region and is committed to be among the best 100 institutions of higher education in the world. It has approximately 100,000 students, with 7 campuses located in different regions of the country. Added to the trajectory of quality and excellence of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and to the support for innovation and leadership given by the Ruta N Corporation, it is expected that, in this Consortium, generation of knowledge will be greatly promoted.

The Centre de Recerca en Sanitat Animal (CReSA) is the animal health research program of the Institut de Recerca i Tecnologia Agroalimentàries (IRTA), a public company of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia (Spain). CReSA is located at the campus of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), working in a new and technologically advanced building with conventional laboratories as well as biocontainment with level-3 biosecurity (BSL3) laboratories and animal facilities. The mission of CReSA is to contribute to the advancement of scientific and technical knowledge on animal health by means of research, knowledge transfer and services to public and private bodies. The long term objective is to globally improve all aspects of animal health that influence the agri-food sector and public health. CReSA researchers’ expertise includes pathology, immunology, bacteriology, virology, entomology, epidemiology and molecular biology, as well as disease animal models. Viral research is focused on endemic and exotic viruses affecting mainly livestock (swine, ruminants and poultry) and occasionally wildlife. Zoonotic viruses including animal influenza viruses, West Nile virus, Rift Valley fever virus and MERS-coronavirus are nowadays significant poles of research.

The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health is part of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland and is composed of ten academic departments. As the first independent, degree-granting institution for research and training in public health, and the largest public health training facility in the United States, the Bloomberg School is a leading international authority on the improvement of health and prevention of disease and disability. The school’s mission is to protect populations from illness and injury by pioneering new research, deploying its knowledge and expertise in the field, and educating scientists and practitioners in the global defense of human life. The school is ranked first in public health in the U.S. News and World Report rankings and has held that ranking since 1994.