The University of Oxford has launched a £118m AI vaccine research programme, CoI-AI, with the Ellison Institute, aiming to combat antibiotic resistance through human challenge trials

A new initiative, led by Oxford Vaccine Group, named CoI-AI (Correlates of Immunity-Artificial Intelligence), will combine Oxford’s expertise in human challenge studies, immune science, and vaccine development with the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT)’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The Ellison Institute will provide its advanced AI technology to the initiative, enhancing our understanding of infections and how vaccines protect us.

CoI-AI programme: Combining human challenge trials and artificial intelligence

The CoI-AI programme will focus on how the immune system responds to germs that cause serious infections and contribute to antibiotic resistance, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli. Researchers will utilise human challenge models, where volunteers are safely exposed to bacteria under controlled conditions, and apply modern immunology and AI tools to pinpoint the immune responses that predict protection.

The CoI-AI programme, established in December 2024 through a strategic alliance between the University of Oxford and EIT, aims to develop solutions and create future leaders needed to tackle some of the most significant and challenging challenges facing humanity, thereby significantly impacting the global health landscape.

EIT is renowned for its groundbreaking research and commercial capabilities, driving scientific discoveries and fostering sustainable and ethical companies. The Ellison Institute combines cross-cutting capabilities and expertise in generative biology, clinical medicine, plant science, sustainable energy, public policy, and other related fields. The research is supported by substantial computing capability enabled by Oracle, a world-class Artificial Intelligence team, and a Scholars programme which aims to help the world’s finest up-and-coming scientists.

Tackling urgent problems in infectious diseases

Professor Sir Andrew Pollard, Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said: “This programme addresses one of the most urgent problems in infectious disease by helping us to understand immunity more deeply to develop innovative vaccines against deadly diseases that have so far evaded our attempts at prevention. By combining advanced immunology with artificial intelligence and utilising human challenge models to study diseases, CoI-AI will provide the tools necessary to tackle serious infections and mitigate the growing threat of antibiotic resistance. This is a new frontier in vaccine science.”

Professor Daniela Ferreira, Deputy Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, said: “This programme will give us completely new tools to study how vaccines work at both a cellular and system-wide level, by studying infections in real time, in people, and using smart immunology tools and data to find the answers. This will open up whole new avenues to vaccine design as we improve our understanding of infection and immunity.”

Larry Ellison, Chairman of the Ellison Institute of Technology, said: “Researchers in the CoI-AI programme will use Artificial Intelligence models developed at EIT to identify and better understand the immune responses that predict protection. This vaccine development programme combines Oxford’s leadership in immunology and human challenge models with cutting-edge AI, laying the groundwork for a new era of vaccine discovery – one that is faster, smarter, and better able to respond to infectious disease outbreaks throughout the world.”

Professor Irene Tracey, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Oxford, said: “This is a major step forward in our strategic alliance with the Ellison Institute. Together, we’re combining Oxford’s strengths in vaccine science with EIT’s bold vision to tackle some of the toughest problems in global health. This is about drawing more talent and capacity to the Oxford ecosystem to turn scientific challenges into real solutions for the world.”

TEHRAN – The first national congress on artificial intelligence (AI) in natural resources aims to focus on challenges in education, research, and its applications in agriculture, natural resources, and the environment.

The two-day event will be held from September 4–5 at Shiraz University, Fars Province, with the theme ‘intelligent technology, green land, and sustainable future.

It highlights the integration of emerging technologies, such as AI, in research and technological projects.

Over 30 lecturers will share their scientific and research achievements through presentations divided into six panels and two specialized meetings, ISNA reported.

Two specialized sessions titled ‘Artificial Intelligence: Governance in Education and Research’ and ‘Precision Agriculture: Adoption, Education, Infrastructure’ will focus on AI challenges in education,  research, and its application in agriculture.

The congress will be centered around productivity and promotion of natural and agricultural industries, smart management of water resources and climate, meteorology, climate change and ecosystem, sustainable agriculture, smart agriculture, big data and agricultural development, biodiversity and pests, remote sensing of natural resources, nature management, improvement of food quality and security, smart robotics, technological education, as well as ethical research in agriculture.

Some $100 million allocated to develop AI

In April, the Vice Presidency for Science, Technology, and Knowledge-Based Economy and the National Development Fund (NDF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to create a 100-million-dollar fund for the development of the artificial intelligence (AI) sector in the country.

Signed by Hossein Afshin, an official with the vice-presidency of science and technology, and Mehdi Ghazanfari, the head of the NDF, the MOU aims to establish a framework for the development and implementation of AI in line with the seventh national development plan (2023-2027) and the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s emphasis on investing in emerging fields, ISNA reported.

Accordingly, the projects introduced by the vice-presidency for science and technology will be funded through loans, partnerships, and other ways of financing. To further boost cooperation between universities and the private sector, the NDF will grant specific loans to those companies that financially support AI-based projects in universities and scientific centers.

In return, the vice-presidency for science and technology will use financing tools for emerging technologies.

MT/MG