Viruses and pandemics
Knowledge development in the corona era: What can we learn from the new coronavirus?
In a time of unprecendented knowledge about viruses and pandemics, the new coronavirus still got a hold of the world. Researchers of Utrecht University join the world-wide effort to combat the new virus by providing answers to such pressing questions as: Where does the virus come from? How do we stop the spread? What possibilities are there for treatment and perhaps the most important question: What is the surest route to a reliable vaccin? The answers to these questions may provide a roadmap to preventing future outbreaks.
Utrecht research into coronavirus vaccines
Pharmaceutical scientists of Utrecht University conduct research on the coronavaccine from different angles. From the effectiveness to the safety of the vaccines. And from the roll out of the vaccination programme to a fair international distribution.
Researchers report discovery of antibody that blocks infection by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 in cells
Researchers at Utrecht University, Erasmus Medical Center and Harbour BioMed (HBM) reported that they have identified a fully human monoclonal antibody that prevents the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) virus from infecting cultured cells. The discovery, published online in Nature Communications, is an initial step towards developing a fully human antibody to treat or prevent the respiratory disease COVID-19 caused by the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2.
Berend Jan BoschAssociate Professor Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
How do we study disease in a society of humans and animals?
Dick Heederik, Professor One Health Risk Analysis
"How do we prevent resistant micro-organisms from crossing over between human and animal populations?"
Expertise: Zoonoses
In the media: Professor Heederik: “Cattle potential epidemic risk”
Contact: 030 253 9480 | d.heederik@uu.nl | (Twitter) @ncohnl
Els Broens, director of the Veterinary Microbiological Diagnostic Center
"The role of cats and dogs in this pandemic is negligible. It's important to prove that. In the Middle East, you saw people putting their cats and dogs on the road en masse when it came out that the virus had been found in quadrupeds.''
Expertise: Zoonoses in pets
In the media: Dutch researchers look into coronavirus and care workers’ cats
Contact: 030 253 1099 | e.m.broens@uu.nl
Arjan Stegeman, Professor of Agricultural Animal Health
"Farm animals have their own coronaviruses, but they don't pass to humans. However, the human Covid-19 virus would have to adapt very extremely to be transmitted efficiently among cattle".
Expertise: Zoonoses in farm animals
In the media: Interview: Transfer of Covid-19 to pigs is unlikely
Contact: 030 253 1091 | j.a.stegeman@uu.nl
Prevent or cure: How can we control new infectious diseases?
Cecile van Els, Professor Vaccinology: Correlations of Protection
"Emerging infectious diseases in humans and animals call for new vaccines."
Expertise: Development of Vaccines
Contact: c.a.c.m.vanels@uu.nl
Zooming in on the virus: From known to unknown
Berend Jan Bosch, Infectious Diseases and Immunology
"Virus diseases are a major public health and food safety challenge, and still difficult to combat".
Expertise: Molecular Immunology | Virus host interactions |
In the media: Industry-university collaboration ‘key’ to coronavirus fight | Scientists discover antibody that ‘blocks coronavirus infection – raising hopes of treatment’ | Scientists create antibody that defeats coronavirus in lab
Contact: b.j.bosch@uu.nl
Raoul de Groot, Infectious Diseases and Immunology
"The best time to prepare for the next pandemic is now."
Expertise: Coronaviruses
Contact: r.j.degroot@uu.nl
Frank van Kuppeveld, Professor of Infectious Diseases and Immunology
"There's a great need for virus inhibitors."
Expertise: Interaction between virus and host
Contact: f.j.m.vankuppeveld@uu.nl
Mathematical models of infectious diseases
Hans Heesterbeek, Professor of Agricultural Animal Health
"The scatter number R is an abstract concept."
Expertise: Mathematical models for infectious diseases
In the media: Regional differences in coroanvirus situations call for customized measures, professor says | What do the experts have to say about the easing of the intelligent lockdown?
Contact: 030 253 1574 j | .a.p.heesterbeek@uu.nl
We can test for coronaviruses, but how do you test specifically for SARS-CoV-2?
Aletta Kraneveld, Professor of Pharmacology
"Once you know the RNA sequence of a virus, you can determine with relatively little data which piece of RNA is unique to that virus. For that piece of RNA you can develop a SARS-CoV-2 specific test"
Expertise: Specific testing for SARS-CoV-2
In the Media: "Specific Primer Design for Accurate Detection of SARS-CoV-2 Using Deep Learning"
Contact: 030 253 4509 | A.D.Kraneveld@uu.nl