A NEW pandemic research-focussed centre is being set up at Oxford University to prepare for the bio-threats to come after Covid.

The Pandemic Sciences Centre, launched on Friday, will have the central mission of ensuring 'the world is better equipped to create global and equitable science-driven solutions to prepare for, identify, and counter future pandemic threats'.

The centre will see different institutes within the University of Oxford work together on preparing for future pandemics.

Louise Richardson, Vice-Chancellor of the university, said: "The recent pandemic has demonstrated the unique contributions research universities like Oxford can make to pandemic preparedness.

"We are building on decades of medical research on infectious disease and data science, we have longstanding international partnerships and we have the ability to act and to adapt quickly.

A press statement from the University said one of the key lessons of the pandemic was the need for close 'partnership' between academic research, industry and public health organisations.

The Oxford Vaccine Group for example, has worked with the company AstraZeneca to produce and distribute its Covid vaccine.

The vaccination programme in the UK, largely considered to be one of the country's successes during the pandemic, has then been managed by the NHS and local public health teams.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Richardson added: "When aligned with industry and with public health bodies we can ensure that the world is never caught unprepared again."

The centre is set to focus on three academic areas, described as themes.

The first is 'accelerating understanding and insights' which involves researching pathogens that cause diseases, the patients that suffer with them, or other aspects of pandemic illnesses, and then sharing data.

The second is 'translating research into real-world solutions' including vaccines and new medical technology.

And the third is 'enhancing confidence, trust and impact', which appears to be based around making sure people trust official information about the dangers of pandemic illnesses, instead of believing in conspiracy theories or mistrusting governments.

Professor Peter Horby, inaugural director of the Pandemic Sciences Centre, said: "The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us that spectacular advances are possible through an alliance of science, the public sector and industry.

He added: "But it should not take a pandemic to make this happen. This level of innovation and multi-sectoral collaboration must be applied, day in and day out, to prevent another catastrophe like Covid-19."

The new research centre was also welcomed by Oxfordshire's local leaders.

Liz Leffman, the Lib Dem leader of Oxfordshire County Council said it was 'a pleasure to see the county making such a contribution to work to improve the whole world’s resilience to pandemics.'

Susan Brown, the Labour leader of Oxford City Council, said: "The last year has shown how important it is for more research in this area and the University of Oxford has, above all academic institutions, shown quite how much it leads the world in this area."