A RESEARCH company, jointly launched by Oxford Brookes University, has been awarded a £2m contract to help develop a vaccine against the Crimean Congo Haemorrhagic Fever Virus.

Oxford Expression Technologies was given the funds by Innovate UK in a bid to tackle the disease affecting the central African country.

The condition is a severe virus disease endemic to Africa, the Balkans, the Middle East and some Asian countries.

The virus is transmitted to humans via tick bites or contact with virus-infected livestock.

University professor Linda King welcomed the boost and said it would save lives.