SARS-CoV-2 is the newly identified coronavirus responsible for the current COVID-19 pandemic. As there is no specific treatment against this emerging virus, unprecedented efforts have taken place in Ireland and internationally to identify effective antiviral compounds to be included in new therapeutic interventions. Indeed, such a treatment could save lives, accelerate clinical improvement of COVID-19 patients and free critical hospital bedsor be given prophylactically to front line workers.
In this context, we have mobilised our resources and expertise in molecular virology, molecular diagnostics, translational research in infectious diseases, small drug screening strategy, clinical practice and clinical trial management to accelerate the development of antiviral treatments against SARS-CoV-2.
Our research programme is of two-fold:
First, conduct high throughput drug screening for their capacity to inhibit of viral replication in vitro using cell-based SARS-CoV-2 infection models and identify compounds to be included in novel therapeutic interventions to be tested in randomised controlled clinical trials. Of note, our drug discovery strategy is based on drug repurposing, with drugs already approved for clinical use and then immediately available for clinical trials and future treatments.
Second, actively support on going and future clinical trials in Ireland by providing a complete automated high throughput molecular platform to monitor the impact of specific interventions on SARS-CoV-2 replication level. This platform will address the immediate need of clinicians when testing the efficacy and safety of treatment options for patients within a limited time frame as it will complement their routine clinical assessment with precise and real-time monitoring of SARS-CoV-2 replication in upper respiratory specimen and/or other samples (blood, stools…). These molecular analyses will provide essential information for the evaluation of drugs candidates, and optimisation and design of future interventions.
