Depositing with NCPV
NCPV viral deposits help shape future research
NCPV strives to have a broad range of viruses of current and historical importance in its repository. We actively encourage viral deposits from academic and research scientists, to help grow our collection. NCPV’s first deposit was Respiratory Syncytial virus (RSV), back in 2000, and since then the collection has grown to contain over 340 authenticated viruses spanning 19 different virus families.
In 2025, 14 viruses were deposited within NCPV’s collection. Including 8 strains of SARS-CoV-2, 3 strains of MPXV and Borealpox. Deposits keep our collection up to date and scientifically relevant. Depositing viruses with NCPV is a free and relatively simple process which allows scientists to make the strains used in their research available to the global scientific community – helping accelerate collaborations and scientific discoveries. Custom release schedules ensure restrictions until publication, maintaining intellectual property protection. Deposited viruses are independently authenticated to ensure accuracy and reproducibility, sterility and mycoplasma tested and kept in secure temperature-controlled storage. NCPV is a not-for-profit organisation, and the revenue is put back into UKHSA to support further UK specific research.
Many viruses highlighted in the recent UKHSA Priority pathogen families research and development tool, are already held within NCPV’s collection. We would like to accession all of the hazard group 2 and 3 viruses listed, especially Human adenovirus type F41 and Human Metapneumovirus. Going forward, we are aiming to expand our collection to contain more contemporary isolates and isolates of viruses with pandemic potential.
Importance of deposits
As seen from past outbreaks, viruses can go from anonymous to infamous, hence a broad repository of well-characterised, authenticated viruses is a powerful tool among the research community, ensuring that future generations of scientists can replicate experiments, build upon existing knowledge and sustain standards and consistencies in research, as well as being a convenient public health tool.
Information on how to deposit your viruses with NCPV can be found: Deposit your viruses | Culture Collections