Story Summary: 6 million) collaborations lead UK research communitys response to H1N1 pandemicLeading UK research funders today announce PS7. So far, over 440,000 people have been confirmed to have been infected worldwide, with 5,700 deaths reported to WHO*. Sir Leszek Borysiewicz, Chief Executive of the MRC, says: The mild winter has so far limited the effects of the H1N1 virus; however, were far from out of the woods. These projects are crucial to the development of a better understanding of the journey of the virus, how it develops, how it spreads and how it changes. Getting the science right and using the strength of collaboration, will ensure that from lab bench to patient bedside, were better prepared. We face a single challenge from an evolving species of virus. With researchers sharing data and resources across the human and animal barrier, and funders working together in these initiatives we have a real chance to understand how swine flu originated, to use this information gathered to feed rapidly into emerging government policy and to how it is circulated in pigs and how we can prevent future pandemics. 1 millionAn extension of the existing FluWatch surveillance programme, this study will follow a cohort of 10,000 individuals from 4,000 households to look at duration and severity of symptoms, access to care and treatment, effectiveness of anti-virals, uptake and effectiveness of the pandemic vaccine delivered through NHS and population behaviour changes through the pandemic and during illness. The study will enable researchers to provide monthly estimates of population infection rates in different subgroups through the pandemic, including estimates of the proportion of infections that are asymptomatic. Comparison with the original FluWatch cohort will provide a unique opportunity to assess whether T cell responses to previous influenza strains offer protection against symptoms in those infected with the new H1N1 strain. 7 millionInternationally renowned teams of scientists from England and Scotland will mount an intensive study of up to 500 people hospitalised with flu during the pandemic. Understanding why some people get very sick with flu will help improve clinical management and future policies for vaccination and antiviral drug use. MOSAIC builds on the UKs Clinical Research Networks and is linked to the Department of Healths clinical information network (FluCIN). Professor Brown will study the immunology of pigs and perform in vivo studies that will provide data on virus transmission and evolution that will inform models on transmission on risk….Read the Full Story

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