The New Zealand Institute for Public Health and Forensic Science – known as PHF Science – is set to host a new phase of investment in infectious diseases research, with a Government announcement today.
The investment of $75 million NZD over eight years aims to build New Zealand’s economic and social resilience to infectious disease, and ensure New Zealand’s infectious disease science is world class.
The investment builds on the success of the Te Niwha Infectious Diseases Research Platform, co-hosted by the University of Otago and PHF Science, which concludes in February 2026 and has funded 95 research projects in priority areas since its founding in 2022.
Science, Innovation and Technology Minister Dr Shane Reti comments that PHF Science plays an important role in the health sector and the government’s pandemic preparedness efforts. “Along with carrying deep institutional knowledge from co-hosting the initial investment, PHF Science is well-placed to lead a refreshed, collaborative national effort.”
As host of the Infectious Disease Research Platform, PHF Science will work closely with other key stakeholders to develop and lead a strategic programme of research, while building on the positive impacts and key capability built through the first phase of investment.
The revised objectives of the Infectious Diseases Research funding focus on strengthening New Zealand’s resilience to infectious disease threats through world-class science and coordinated capability, and aims to:
- Significantly increase New Zealand’s economic and social resilience to infectious disease threats
- Grow infectious disease science leaders and research capability
- Build science surge capability able to support an effective pandemic response
- Coordinate infectious disease research capability across the platform and with end-users to increase the impact of the research
- Work closely with Australian researchers
- and build on the government's previous investments in infectious disease research and research capability in support of resilience.
“This funding is good news for Aotearoa’s science research community, and for New Zealanders,” says PHF Science Chief Executive Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
“As host of this new phase of an Infectious Disease Research Platform, we think of ourselves as stewards of the funding, and we will work with the full range of stakeholders to develop and lead a strategic programme of research, building on the positive impacts, key capability and important relationships built through the first phase of investment under Te Niwha.”
A steering group will be established quickly to guide the planning and transition into the next phase of the fund.