The University of Oxford has launched a £118m AI vaccine research programme, CoI-AI, with the Ellison institute, aiming to combat antibiotic resistance through human challenge trials

A new initiative, led by Oxford Vaccine Group, named CoI-AI (Correlates of Immunity-Artificial Intelligence), will combine oxford’s expertise in human challenge studies, immune science, and vaccine advancement with the Ellison Institute of Technology (EIT)‘s Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology. The Ellison Institute will provide its advanced AI technology to the initiative,helping us better understand infections and how vaccines protect us.

CoI-AI programme: Combining human challenge trials and artificial intelligence

The CoI-AI programme will focus on how the immune system responds to germs that cause serious infections and contribute to antibiotic resistance, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and E. coli. Researchers will use human challenge models,where volunteers are safely exposed to bacteria under controlled conditions,and apply modern immunology and AI tools to identify the immune responses that predict protection.

The CoI-AI programme, established in December 2024 through a partnership between the University of Oxford and EIT, aims to develop solutions and create future leaders needed to tackle some of the most important and challenging global health threats.