The Pirbright Institute

Who we are

The Pirbright Institute

The Pirbright Institute is an independent company, limited by guarantee and a registered charity, governed by a Board of non-executive Trustee Directors.  The Institute has an annual operational budget of over £30m. Over 60% of our funding comes from the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC), in partnership with UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), with the remaining income coming mainly from organisations such as the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), the EU, Bill and Melinda Gates’ Foundation and Wellcome Trust, amongst others. The Institute employs almost 400 employees on one site, at Pirbright in Surrey, with about 50 PhD students and visiting scientists, from countries across the world, who all contribute to the diversity of our organisation. We host national high-containment facilities and £200m has been invested in recent years in upgrading our world leading facilities, with a further £100m investment in new buildings coming on line over the next two years.

The Pirbright Institute delivers world-leading research to understand, predict, detect and respond to viral disease outbreaks. We study viruses of livestock that are endemic and exotic to the UK, including zoonotic viruses (those spread between animals and people), by using the most advanced tools and technologies to understand host-pathogen interactions in animals and arthropod (e.g. insects) vectors. Our major strength in understanding the immune systems of livestock provides a platform to control current diseases and respond to emerging threats. We work to enhance capability to contain, control and eliminate these economically and medically important diseases through highly innovative fundamental and applied bioscience. 

Our Institute is made up of a dynamic and vibrant community of staff covering a diverse set of chosen fields, backgrounds and experience. We all play a crucial role in furthering the Institute’s aspirations, advancing the frontiers of science and knowledge through our excellent scientific research, knowledge sharing and contribution; with a real focus on improving the world in which we live. Our outlook is always balanced by our strong sense of purpose, values and behaviours.