Strong cytotoxic T cell responses to an internal viral component are associated with mild COVID-19 disease
COI prioritise funding support to the current crisis caused by novel coronavirus
Latest News
Sixty Seconds with Professor Fadi Issa, COI Principal Investigator
20 March 2026
COI Principal Investigator, Professor Fadi Issa recently took up the divisional role of Academic Lead for Research Funding. In this interview, Fadi reflects on the importance of resilience and clarity of thinking, shares what the role involves, what is changing in the funding landscape, and offers practical advice for early career researchers navigating competition, rejection and the realities of grant writing.
The Wing Lab receives BBSRC New Investigator Award to investigate how cells sensing oxygen can impact zoonotic viral disease in bats
9 January 2026
The awarded project, titled 'Understanding the role of oxygen sensing in effective control of high-consequence viral pathogens', has been funded by a BBSRC (Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council) New Investigator Award. This funding will be used to investigate how divergent aspects of the cellular oxygen sensing pathway in bats impacts their ability to harbour pathogenic viral infections. This award expands the WIng Lab and their interests in molecular virology to understanding viral zoonosis in an important reservoir species.
CSC - CAMS/PUMC - Oxford High-level Innovative Talent Scholarships
The Chinese Scholarship Council, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences/Peking Union Medical College and the University of Oxford collaborate together for a programme of scholarship cooperation.
The main purpose of this programme is to train the next generation of leaders in the medical sciences field. By combining the strength of our partners, it is aimed at students with a clinical background with an interest in pursuing research in a scientific field related to medicine.
Key COVID-19 Publications
An immunodominant NP105–113-B*07:02 cytotoxic T cell response controls viral replication and is associated with less severe COVID-19 disease
Journal article
Peng Y. et al, (2022), Nature Immunology, 23, 50 - 61
The antibody response to SARS-CoV-2 Beta underscores the antigenic distance to other variants
Journal article
Liu C. et al, (2022), Cell Host & Microbe, 30, 53 - 68.e12
Reactogenicity and immunogenicity after a late second dose or a third dose of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 in the UK: a substudy of two randomised controlled trials (COV001 and COV002)
Journal article
Flaxman A. et al, (2021), The Lancet, 398, 981 - 990
Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.617 by vaccine and convalescent serum
Journal article
Liu C. et al, (2021), Cell, 184, 4220 - 4236.e13
A haemagglutination test for rapid detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2
Journal article
Townsend A. et al, (2020)
The antigenic anatomy of SARS-CoV-2 receptor binding domain
Journal article
Dejnirattisai W. et al, (2021), Cell, 184, 2183 - 2200.e22
Reduced neutralization of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.7 variant by convalescent and vaccine sera
Journal article
Supasa P. et al, (2021), Cell, 184, 2201 - 2211.e7
Evidence of escape of SARS-CoV-2 variant B.1.351 from natural and vaccine-induced sera
Journal article
Zhou D. et al, (2021), Cell, 184, 2348 - 2361.e6
Broad and strong memory CD4+ and CD8+ T cells induced by SARS-CoV-2 in UK convalescent individuals following COVID-19
Journal article
Peng Y. et al, (2020), Nature Immunology, 21, 1336 - 1345
Current Vacancies
There are currently no vacancies in COI.