UofG helps secure €4.4 million EU funding to train the next generation of viral experts
Published: 7 August 2026
The MRC-University of Glasgow’s Centre for Virus Research (CVR) is playing a leading role in a major new European doctoral training programme.
The MRC-University of Glasgow’s Centre for Virus Research (CVR) is playing a leading role in a major new European doctoral training programme designed to improve the early detection of emerging viral threats and strengthen preparedness for future pandemics.
The European Commission has awarded 4.4 million euros through the Horizon Europe Marie Sklodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) Doctoral Network programme to the international DETECTIVE (Data driven Excellence in Training of Epidemiological, Clinical, Technological and Innovative Virus Experts) consortium.
The programme will train 14 doctoral researchers across Europe in cutting-edge approaches to viral detection, surveillance, data science, diagnostics and outbreak response.
Coordinated by the University of Turku, DETECTIVE brings together leading academic, healthcare, and public health institutions from across Europe to develop the next generation of experts in epidemic intelligence and pandemic preparedness.
At the CVR, Dr Ana Filipe, Head of Viral Genomics, and Professor Antonia Ho, Professor and Honorary Consultant of Infectious Diseases, will each lead a doctoral research project.
Combining genomics, wastewater surveillance, clinical data and artificial intelligence, these projects will develop next-generation tools for outbreak detection and pandemic preparedness. Their research aims to improve the early detection of emerging viral threats, enhanced sureveillance of severe respiratory infections, identify patients at highest risk of severe infection and generate actionable evidence to support healthcare delivery and public health responses.
Dr Ana Filipe said: "Rapid advances in genomics and data science are transforming how we detect and track viruses. Through DETECTIVE, we will equip early-career researchers with the skills needed to translate complex biological and surveillance data into actionable insights that can support public health and clinical decision-making."
Professor Antonia Ho said: "The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the critical importance of integrating clinical research, genomics, epidemiology and public health surveillance to understand and respond to infectious disease threats. DETECTIVE provides a unique opportunity to train the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers while developing innovative approaches that will strengthen our preparedness for future viral outbreaks."
Emerging and re-emerging viral infections continue to place significant pressures on healthcare systems and economies worldwide. Although advances in diagnostics and surveillance have improved outbreak detection, expertise and data infrastructure remain fragmented across disciplines, limiting our ability to identify and respond to new viral threats.
DETECTIVE aims to overcome these challenges through a comprehensive training and research programme spanning the full pathway from clinical diagnosis and virus detection to risk assessment and evidence-based decision-making. The project will utilise technologies including next-generation sequencing, organoid and culture models, wastewater and blood-donor surveillance, multi-omics approaches and AI-based analytic.
The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR) is internationally recognised for its expertise in human viral diseases and viruses at the human-animal interface. As one of Europe’s leading centres for virology research, the CVR brings together scientists, and clinicians to address global viral threats through collaborative, multidisciplinary research.
By combining expertise in virology, clinical research, genomics, and data science, DETECTIVE will help create a new generation of researchers capable of bridging laboratory science, healthcare, and public health. The programme aims to develop new tools, standards, and decision-making frameworks that will strengthen Europe’s ability to anticipate, detect and respond to emerging viral threats quickly and in a coordinated manner.
The DETECTIVE consortium
Along with the University of Glasgow, the DETECTIVE consortium comprises eight beneficiary institutions and 14 associated partners across five European countries, including:
- University of Turku, Finland
- University of Tampere, Finland
- University of Copenhagen, Denmark
- Nordsjallands Hospital, Denmark
- Amsterdam University Medical Centre, Netherlands
- The Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Netherlands
- Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Barcelona, Spain
- University College London, UK
The consortium also has a range of academic, healthcare and industry partners. The network will train a total of 14 doctoral researchers in five countries including two based at CVR.
First published: 7 August 2026