Introducing Professor Gil McVean: Leading Innovation at Pathogena to Combat Global Infectious Disease Threats
A microscopic threat can ripple across the globe in just weeks -as the COVID-19 pandemic proved - serving as a stark reminder of how rapidly infectious diseases can spread, disrupt lives and overwhelm health systems. But the challenges haven’t stopped- antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is silently escalating, threatening to undo decades of medical progress.
In response, Pathogena, a key program at EIT, is developing end-to-end solutions to detect and neutralise these threats before they escalate into global crises. “Pathogena’s mission is bold: to revolutionise infectious disease prevention and treatment” explains Professor Gil McVean, Principal Scientist for Pathogena at EIT.
The Opportunity
Pathogena is pioneering laboratory, hardware, data and analytical approaches – powered by genome sequencing – to enable real-time diagnostics and population-scale intelligence, effectively transforming how we can identify and tackle infectious disease.
These innovations aim to ultimately create a global “Always On” system capable of providing early warnings to prevent future outbreaks - a transformative shift in global health preparedness.
Professor Gil McVean: Driving Pathogena’s Vision Forward
A Pioneer in Genomics and Data Science
Professor Gil McVean is a globally recognised expert in genomics and population data science. His research has focused on understanding the molecular and evolutionary processes that shape genetic variation in populations, with landmark contributions such as his work on the 1000 Genomes Project, which greatly expanded our understanding of human genetic diversity.
As the founding director of Oxford’s Big Data Institute and co-founder of the Oxford spinout company Genomics, McVean has been at the forefront of advancing genomic technologies. His leadership continues to influence the field, as he currently serves as President of the UK’s Genetics Society.
Joining EIT: A New Chapter in Global Health Innovation
At EIT, McVean leads Pathogena’s research and development, focusing on building the data resources, genomic technologies and analytical tools that support rapid diagnosis, treatment selection and global monitoring of pathogens. We spoke with him to explore what drew him to EIT, his vision for Pathogena and the challenges he wants to address.
Why EIT? What drew you to this unique organisation?
“I believe that the sustainable investment model provided by EIT is the best way to tackle some of the greatest challenges faced by the world. I was very impressed by the level of ambition, which was matched by the available resources, and has the potential to have a lasting impact. The arrival of EIT in Oxford feels like a piece of the US West Coast innovation culture landing in the UK.
The approach of tackling the "big problem" directly is powerful because, by addressing the larger challenge, you uncover all the obstacles you need to overcome - and in doing so, it often simplifies the path forward. This approach recognises the interconnectedness of the world. Food security, health and climate change are all linked. In my work with pathogens, it's clear that these organisms don't respect geographical boundaries. Everything we’re tackling is intrinsically connected at the most fundamental level. You can’t separate the issues of pathogens and infectious diseases from food security or the impact of climate change. This interconnectedness and the need to solve problems at a systems level is at the heart of how we approach challenges at EIT.
What are the most exciting and challenging questions you hope to explore at EIT?
“I wanted to explore how some outbreaks become epidemics, and then some go on to become pandemics. We are at the earliest stages of understanding and predicting the outcomes of interactions between microbes and people, and why some infections become pathogenic. Advancing this science could have a profound impact on global health.”
Tracking of infectious disease at a global scale must be quite an exciting time to be involved in technology and health
“Yes, we've clearly seen a huge shift in our ability to generate data and use it to create better decisions at a local and global scale. But what we're really lacking at the moment is a way of putting those ideas into practice and I think one of the amazing opportunities we have at EIT
is about transforming those ideas from brilliant science to technologies that will address some of the world's biggest challenges.”
What would impact in your field look like?
“When we have reduced morbidity and mortality from infectious disease, and when we have halted - or even reversed - the growing threat of AMR.”
Bridging Science and Solutions
EIT is confronting some of the world’s most enduring problems. From infectious diseases to global health crises, there has never been a more urgent need for field-leading experts to be at the forefront. We’ve seen an unprecedented leap in our ability to generate data and leverage it for smarter decision-making - both locally and globally. But the gap remains: how do we translate this wealth of knowledge into practical solutions?
At EIT, we’re bridging that gap. By transforming cutting-edge science into practical technologies, we’re not just advancing science - we’re delivering solutions where they matter most.