Working together to combat coronavirus outbreaks
Working together to combat coronavirus outbreaks
New treatment options and the development of better drugs may help to reduce the spread of the current coronavirus on a short term basis. Researchers also want to gain more thorough knowledge about coronaviruses. In this way, we are better prepared for future outbreaks of other coronaviruses. An important goal for the mid-term is to develop inhibitors that are active against larger groups of related coronaviruses. And maybe even against this entire family of viruses.
LUMC is located at the Leiden Bio Science Park, where we collaborate with various international companies such as Janssen Pharmaceutica, as well as with startups, using our test facilities. Internationally, our researchers work together with various European partners.
Possible vaccine
Possible vaccine
Under the leadership of Marjolein Kikkert, candidate vaccines from the PREVENT nCoV-19 project are being researched in the LUMC. Within this collaborative project, the vaccines are tested in the laboratory and the clinic for effectiveness and safety. Within this project, which also receives research funding from the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union, there are also parts that are not funded by governments. Funding is still needed for these components. Any contribution is welcome.
Read more about this research here.
Research on corona virus inhibitors
Research on corona virus inhibitors
Snijder's research group plays an important role in the SCORE project (Swift Coronavirus Therapeutics Response). Together with 7 European partners, LUMC researchers are investigating how to develop antiviral drugs to combat coronaviruses. Within this project there are also parts that are not financed by governments. Funding is still needed for these components. Any contribution is welcome.
Read more about this research here.
Covidkids
Covidkids
Dutch paediatricians, led by the Willem Alexander Children's Hospital (WAKZ) in Leiden, have started to systematically collect data from children who come to the hospital due to an infection with the coronavirus. They hope to learn more about the expression, course and treatment of COVID-19 in children.
Read more about this research here.
Video item LUMC
Why should you help?
Expansion of an extra Bio Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory in order to be able to work safely with the virus is urgent and requires an acute and substantial investment. One of the research teams at LUMC wants to study how certain drugs are blocking the multiplication of the virus, and how the virus can potentially escape from these drugs? This information is crucial if virus inhibitors are to be continuously improved. This information is crucial if virus inhibitors are to be continuously improved. The research also provides additional information. In this way, the development of antiviral drugs can be accelerated.
Gift from foundation or company
Gift from foundation or company
As an foundation or company you can contribute to:
- an additional Bio Safety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory
- the structural training of a trained research team
For more information and questions please contact Philanthropy advisor Ambika Lucassen of the LUMC Research Foundation via telephone number +31 (0)71 526 57 49 or donate directly via the following account number NL03 INGB 0657 9199 26 o.v.v. Samen tegen Corona.
Charitable gift from abroad
Charitable gift from abroad
Is your organisation or foundation headed in another country? It is possible to donate with tax deductability or Gift Aid. Please email us by clicking one of the buttons below. The right details will be sent to you immediately.
Video item LUMC
PEP-talk Eric Snijder
In the video, Professor Eric Snijder, Professor of Virology at LUMC, explains what coronaviruses are, as well as what happens in cells when someone gets infected and what we can do to prevent them from spreading.
If you would like to know more about the research, take a look at the video of Professor Dr Snijder's PEP-talk about coronaviruses.
New treatment options for patients
New treatment options for patients
In order to limit the spreading of the coronavirus and to be able to control other coronaviruses in the future, it is important that measures are taken worldwide. Snijder: "Researchers are looking for antiviral drugs that can be used in the short or mid-term to treat patients and limit the spreading of coronaviruses".
LUMC Centre for Infectious Diseases
Leiden researchers began research into infectious diseases such as Ebola and SARS 25 years ago. With the knowledge that it has acquired, the LUMC has become the research and knowledge centre in the Netherlands in the field of infectious diseases. The Centre for Infectious Diseases comprises the departments of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Medical Microbiology. Within these departments various research groups look for new ways to treat and prevent infectious diseases. The LUMC has excellent research facilities, including a special BSL3 lab.
Due to its international reputation and very good facilities, LUMC research groups within the Centre for Infectious Diseases receive numerous requests for the direct testing of possible anti-viral agents and vaccine candidates in the fight against the coronavirus. We are now fully engaged in doing so.
Current research
An important research project that started immediately after the corona- pandemic outbreak is the SCORE project; a study of antiviral therapies against corona. In this project LUMC cooperates with 7 European partners:
- (Coordinator) Leiden University Medical Centre, the Netherlands
- University of Aix Marseille, France
- Catholic University of Leuven, Belgium
- University of Utrecht, the Netherlands
- University of Bern, Switzerland
- University of Lübeck, Germany
- Helmholtz Center for Infection Research GmbH Braunschweig Germany
- Janssen Pharmaceutica NV Beerse, Belgium
This LUMC research group expects to initiate further research into the development of vaccines and virus inhibitors against SARS-CoV-2 in the near future. This will require expansion of the facilities and the research team.
Naming
The name of the virus is: severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The WHO has named the disease that causes SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19. This was based on research in which Leiden played an important role.
Research into the effects of virus inhibitors
Within the project, the researchers also want to study how certain drugs block the multiplication of the virus, and how the virus can potentially escape from these drugs. This information is crucial for the continuous improvement of virus inhibitors. The research also provides all kinds of 'molecular tools' and infection models. In this way, the development of antiviral drugs can be accelerated.
#Wakeuptocorona
#Wakeuptocorona
All across the world, scientists are working day and night to stop the corona epidemic. Within an extended European context Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) is working intensively to characterize this virus in detail and test potential virus inhibitors and vaccine candidates
Would you like to help? Donate via the crowdfunding campaign Wakeuptocorona. Also, spread the word and challenge others to do the same with the wakeuptocorona-challenge!
News
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Missing link in replication process of coronaviruses identified by LUMC researchers
Coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 drastically remodel infected cells by building special membrane structures that accommodate virus replication. LUMC researchers previously discovered that the genome of the virus is copied in these replication organelles. These structures seemed to be completely sealed, which made it puzzling how the newly made genomes could leave this compartment. Using electron microscopy, the researchers found a passage that is formed by a large viral protein. This structure is a potential new starting point for the development of antiviral drugs. The study is published in Science.