Retroscreen Virology

Retroscreen Virology was incorporated in 1988 as a spin-out company from Queen Mary, University of London to commercialise the academic research of Professor John Oxford in the field of retroviruses, which at the time, were considered to have promise in the fight against HIV/Aids. The initial contract led to further studies with other world leading pharmaceutical companies. Whilst the scientific focus of Retroscreen Virology has changed significantly since its inception, the Company has always been demand-led, and has greatly evolved over time.

The concept of infecting human volunteers with a respiratory virus became commonplace in 1948 at the Common Cold Unit in Salisbury, where Professor Oxford was subsequently involved in several studies. Volunteers were housed in detached buildings, and were physically isolated from both staff and other volunteers.

In 2001, Professor Oxford was asked to expand from the laboratory and leverage his early career experience in these early Human Viral Challenge Studies. Studies were conducted at Retroscreen Virology, led by Dr. Robert Lambkin-Williams and Dr. Anthony Gilbert, to develop a series of well-characterised virus stocks whilst demonstrating that the Human Viral Challenge Model could be effective in offering clients a faster and cost effective route to market for their therapeutics. One notable study was the first proof of the efficacy of a siRNA therapeutic, in which Retroscreen Virology’s Human Viral Challenge Model proved instrumental.

With the Human Viral Challenge Model gaining acceptance in an increasing number of peer-reviewed publications, Retroscreen Virology designed and built its own dedicated, bespoke quarantine unit in London, which opened in early 2011. Since this time, the scientific and medical teams have expanded substantially, and between them, have significant experience of designing and conducting Human Viral Challenge Model studies.