Pioneering US biotech firm, Moderna, will make millions of vaccines for seasonal viruses like COVID-19, create dozens of highly-skilled jobs, and help build a Britain which is more resilient to pandemics, following the opening of a new cutting-edge research centre in Oxfordshire.

The new Moderna Innovation and Technology Centre, built by Glencar, is the latest addition to the UK’s £100bn life sciences sector to come out of Moderna’s 10-year strategic partnership with the Government.

The partnership also includes a £1bn programme of investment in UK R&D being brought forward by the company, tapping into the UK’s deep skills base, world-class academic institutions, and the power of the NHS as an engine for research and innovation.

The opening of the centre earlier this week creates 150 highly-skilled jobs, while enabling groundbreaking work on the use of mRNA vaccine technology to tackle cancer and seasonal infections like flu, RSV, and COVID-19.

RNA technology is an emerging field of healthcare with the potential to overhaul how we tackle a wide range of diseases that currently cause ill health.

Life sciences are a great British success story and this new cutting-edge facility is the next pivotal moment in boosting our nation’s health, innovation, and economy

It could also be utilised to produce up to 250 million vaccine doses a year in the event of a pandemic, making a critical contribution to national resilience to future health emergencies, by building the UK’s capacity to produce cutting-edge therapies at scale, at home, should they be needed.

To support further game-changing investments in life sciences R&D, the Government is also piloting the Life Sciences Transformational R&D Investment Fund.

This new £50m fund aims to bolster the UK’s research and development infrastructure by supporting large-scale, capital-intensive projects in the life sciences sector worth over £100m.

The fund is designed to attract substantial private investment in UK-based R&D, reinforcing the UK’s position as the location of choice for life sciences innovation, and pulling in the investment that is a vital part of economic growth.

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said: “Life sciences are a great British success story and this new cutting-edge facility is the next pivotal moment in boosting our nation’s health, innovation, and economy.

“The government is investing billions into this vital sector and partnering the might of Moderna with the brilliance of our NHS will enable us to benefit from innovative vaccine technology as we shift healthcare from treatment to prevention.

“Pioneering centres like these will help ensure this country remains a powerhouse in this growing industry, as part of our comprehensive Plan for Change.”

The opening of this centre is proof of the brilliant things coming out of the deep and meaningful relationships we’re determined to forge with companies like Moderna

Science Minister, Lord Vallance, added: “The UK’s life sciences sector is a fundamental part of our nation’s health and economy and will be critical to our ambitions going forward.

“The pioneering work Moderna will be doing, here in the UK, on mRNA is a prime example of the opportunity we want to grasp.

“It’s the chance for new treatments that save lives, and new products that drive growth and job creation, all made possible thanks to our world-class institutions, skills, and the NHS.

“It is this unique mix that makes the UK a life sciences destination that punches well above its weight.

“The opening of this centre is proof of the brilliant things coming out of the deep and meaningful relationships we’re determined to forge with companies like Moderna.”

And Darius Hughes, UK general manager of Moderna, said: “It has been incredible to see the MITC built at record speed to bring our mRNA manufacturing to the UK, and this progress wouldn’t have been possible without the support of our partners and the UK government.

“With the facility now open and operational, we’re proud to be the first company to have established a UK-based mRNA manufacturing capability to support NHS seasonal vaccination programmes.

“This mission-driven collaboration strengthens the UK’s pandemic preparedness and is a win-win-win for patients, for government, and for the life sciences sector.”

With the facility now open and operational, we’re proud to be the first company to have established a UK-based mRNA manufacturing capability to support NHS seasonal vaccination programmes

Moderna is best known for developing one of the first COVID jabs put to use during the pandemic.

The vaccine was based on messenger RNA technology: an emerging field of healthcare with enormous potential – ranging from cancer therapies currently being trialled on the NHS, to new vaccines for seasonal infections like flu and norovirus.

Moderna is also investing in UK R&D more broadly – ranging from clinical trials, to backing for postgraduate researchers.

And the company was one of the largest industry sponsors of clinical trials in the UK in 2024 and its investment is helping to get a larger number and broader range of volunteers involved in clinical trials, as part of the UK Vaccine Innovation Pathway.

Fitout of the new building was undertaken by John Sisk.