The UK government will pledge £46 million toward efforts to develop a coronavirus vaccine and a quick-fire rapid results test to check whether someone has the virus, prime minister Boris Johnson has said.
Johnson said that the funding will form part of the government’s “research phase” in its four-point plan to contain, delay, mitigate and research COVID-19.
The pledge sees the total amount of money invested by the government into the coronavirus crackdown rise to £91 million.
Johnson said in a statement: "Keeping the British people safe is my number one priority, and that's why I've set out our four-part plan to contain, delay, mitigate and research coronavirus.
"We are ensuring the country is prepared for the current outbreak, guided by the science at every stage. But we also need to invest now in researching the vaccines that could help prevent future outbreaks.
"I'm very proud that UK experts - backed by government funding - are on the front line of global efforts to do just that."
The work that will benefit from the funding includes research on eight possible vaccines which are in development, along with further research into the disease. Human trials could begin later this year.
Bedford-based Mologic laboratory will receive some of the funding and focus on developing a quick coronavirus test, which could provide results within 20 minutes. It has been involved in developing quick results tests for other diseases such as Ebola, but it may take around six months to develop a fully functional coronavirus test.
Furthermore, the government's scientific advisers have warned that a vaccine is unlikely to be ready in time to contain the existing outbreak, given that it will need to be developed and fully tested before being mass-produced and distributed.
Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s leading scientific officer, said: "Rapid testing is going to be key to managing this outbreak, but ultimately vaccines are going to provide the long-term protection we need.
"The UK has some of the world's leading scientists and this money will help in our fight to tackle this new disease.”
