The visit underscored the Moh Family Foundation’s crucial role in enhancing the Pandemic Sciences Institute's capabilities and was a welcome opportunity for PSI staff to meet Moh Family Foundation Board members and guests.
The meeting at PSI was part of a wider visit to Oxford, where Mr and Mrs Michael and Peggy Moh were admitted as representatives of the Moh Family Foundation to the Chancellor’s Court of Benefactors. The University has inscribed the Moh Family Foundation’s name upon its Clarendon Arch in permanent recognition of the Foundation’s transformative support.
The Foundation’s support has been instrumental in expanding the PSI’s work in areas such as the clinical care of patients with dangerous infections, the epidemiology and control of epidemic and pandemic prone viruses, and addressing ethical and social dilemmas in pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. It is also helping to build a cohort of aspiring leaders in the field through an Oxford-Moh Family Foundation Global Health DPhil Scholarship programme.
At the visit, Professor Sir Peter Horby, PSI Director and Moh Family Foundation Professor of Emerging Infectious Diseases and Global Health, introduced a series of short talks given by PSI Investigators that outlined key research programmes. He emphasised the critical importance of the Moh Family Foundation investment in enabling researchers to be adaptable and flexible in responding to research needs globally.
“We are constantly facing outbreaks, and it is essential to have the resources and infrastructure to respond quickly,” Professor Horby said.
“The support from the Moh Family Foundation is really helping us take bold steps to strengthen global health. With their backing, we're not just able to tackle current crises, but also get ahead of future ones. Their partnership gives us the tools to accelerate scientific breakthroughs, drive new innovations, and inspire the next generation of researchers who will lead the fight against global health challenges.”
The Moh Family Foundation visitors also heard from PSI Investigators about the importance of a multidisciplinary perspective.
Professor Michael Parker, Professor of Bioethics and Director of the Ethox Centre, highlighted that both high-quality science and effective governance are required, and emphasised the need for a more inclusive approach to ethical decision-making. Dr Alice Norton, Head of the PSI Policy and Practice Research Group, spoke about her work on tracking and prioritising research investments to maximise impact and ensure a more coordinated and efficient global response.
After the talks, the visitors were given a tour of state-of-the-art labs at PSI where they learnt about the ground-breaking work being done to characterise emerging pathogens, engineer therapeutics, and develop vaccines.
Together with the generous support of the Moh Family Foundation, these efforts are laying the groundwork for a future where epidemics are met with effective action before they can turn into global crises.
