Targeting SARS-CoV-2 variants and related Coronaviruses representing current and future pandemic threats.
It remains an inexact science to predict what pathogen will give rise to the next pandemic, and when or where the spill-over to humans will occur. Based on our understanding of past pandemics and the biology of viral pathogens, certain families of RNA viruses are high on the top 10 list. However, predicting which virus variant will emerge from these large and diverse families of potential human pathogens to cause future pandemics remains a challenge unless we are able to develop vaccines that are broadly protective against groups of related viruses. This talk will describe a new vaccine antigen discovery technology that is being developed to address the current COVID19 pandemic, its variants, and future pandemic threats that may arise from the diverse Coronavirus and Influenza virus families.
Professor Jonathan Heeney, University of Cambridge
Jonathan Heeney studies animal viruses that are transmitted to humans (Zoonotic Viruses) and cause human disease outbreaks. In 2007 he established the Lab of Viral Zoonotics (LVZ) in Cambridge to understand protective immunity to these viruses, to distinguish those which cause immunopathology (disease) so that we can design better vaccines and therapeutics for prevention and treatment. The LVZ spans veterinary and human disease as they trace the origins and evolution of pathogens and their natural hosts. In 2017 they established new technology to make vastly improved vaccine antigens to deliver next generation vaccines to prevent future pandemics.
Attending lectures
Full video
The lecture will be preceded by a short presentation from a CSAR PhD Award Winner.
Semiconductor nanodevices as a platform for new emerging physics
Pedro Vianez, Department of Physics
Full video
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