University of Glasgow Helps Secure €4.4 Million EU Funding for Viral Threat Detection Training Programme

University of Glasgow Helps Secure €4.4 Million EU Funding for Viral Threat Detection Training Programme

(IN BRIEF) The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research is playing a leading role in DETECTIVE, a new European doctoral training programme backed by €4.4 million in EU funding through the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network programme. The consortium, coordinated by the University of Turku, will train 14 doctoral researchers across Europe in viral detection, surveillance, data science, diagnostics and outbreak response. At Glasgow, Dr Ana Filipe and Professor Antonia Ho will each lead doctoral research projects combining genomics, wastewater surveillance, clinical data and AI to improve outbreak detection and pandemic preparedness. The programme aims to strengthen Europe’s ability to anticipate, detect and respond to emerging viral threats by connecting laboratory research, healthcare, public health surveillance and evidence-based decision-making.

(PRESS RELEASE) GLASGOW, 7-Aug-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — University of Glasgow is helping lead a major new European doctoral training programme designed to improve the early detection of emerging viral threats and strengthen preparedness for future pandemics.

The work will be carried out through the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, known as CVR, which is taking a leading role in the international DETECTIVE consortium.

The European Commission has awarded €4.4 million through the Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Doctoral Network programme to support the initiative.

DETECTIVE stands for Data driven Excellence in Training of Epidemiological, Clinical, Technological and Innovative Virus Experts.

The programme will train 14 doctoral researchers across Europe in advanced approaches to viral detection, surveillance, data science, diagnostics and outbreak response.

Coordinated by the University of Turku in Finland, DETECTIVE brings together leading academic, healthcare and public health institutions from across Europe.

The consortium aims to develop the next generation of specialists in epidemic intelligence and pandemic preparedness.

At the University of Glasgow’s 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.

Their work will combine genomics, wastewater surveillance, clinical data and artificial intelligence to develop next-generation tools for outbreak detection and pandemic preparedness.

The research aims to improve early detection of emerging viral threats, enhance surveillance 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 changing how viruses are detected and tracked.

She said DETECTIVE will equip early-career researchers with the skills needed to translate complex biological and surveillance data into actionable insights for public health and clinical decision-making.

Professor Antonia Ho said the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the importance of integrating clinical research, genomics, epidemiology and public health surveillance when understanding and responding to infectious disease threats.

She said DETECTIVE provides a unique opportunity to train a new generation of interdisciplinary researchers while developing innovative approaches that can strengthen preparedness for future viral outbreaks.

Emerging and re-emerging viral infections continue to place significant pressure on healthcare systems and economies around the world.

Although diagnostic and surveillance technologies have improved outbreak detection, expertise and data infrastructure remain fragmented across disciplines.

This fragmentation limits the ability to identify and respond quickly to new viral threats.

DETECTIVE aims to address these challenges through a comprehensive training and research programme covering the full pathway from clinical diagnosis and virus detection to risk assessment and evidence-based decision-making.

The project will use technologies including next-generation sequencing, organoid and culture models, wastewater surveillance, blood-donor surveillance, multi-omics approaches and AI-based analytics.

The MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research 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 and multidisciplinary research.

By combining expertise in virology, clinical research, genomics and data science, DETECTIVE will help create a new generation of researchers able to connect laboratory science, healthcare and public health.

The programme also aims to develop new tools, standards and decision-making frameworks that strengthen Europe’s ability to anticipate, detect and respond to emerging viral threats quickly and in a coordinated way.

Alongside the University of Glasgow, the DETECTIVE consortium includes eight beneficiary institutions and 14 associated partners across five European countries.

The beneficiary institutions include the University of Turku, Tampere University, the University of Copenhagen, Nordsjællands Hospital, Amsterdam University Medical Centre, the Dutch National Institute for Public Health and the Environment, Vall d’Hebron University Hospital Barcelona and University College London.

The consortium also includes a wider group of academic, healthcare and industry partners.

In total, the network will train 14 doctoral researchers across five countries, including two researchers based at the University of Glasgow’s Centre for Virus Research.

Through its role in DETECTIVE, the University of Glasgow is helping advance European research capacity in viral surveillance, outbreak detection and pandemic preparedness while supporting the training of specialists equipped to respond to future infectious disease threats.

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.

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email: media@gla.ac.uk

SOURCE: University of Glasgow