In January 2020, when Covid-19 was still unknown to much of the world, Oxfordshire’s scientists were already working on a response. The county’s well-established life sciences ecosystem – which includes pioneering academic and medical institutions, unique research establishments, and hundreds of biomedical companies – was able to mobilise immediately. The region is world-renowned for its work in medicine, research and diagnostics, and has a long held expertise in vaccinology and immunology.