- Global Collaboration: AVITHRAPID joins an international assembly of scientists at the “Pandemic Preparedness: Achievements, Current Challenges, and New Frontiers” conference in Trieste to discuss innovations in antiviral research and strategies for pandemic response.
- Focus on Multidisciplinary Innovation: The conference will bring together experts across disciplines, including virology, artificial intelligence, structural biology, and drug discovery, to address current and future challenges in tackling pandemic threats.
- Strengthening Resilience: AVITHRAPID’s participation underscores its commitment to advancing Europe’s readiness for potential pandemics through cutting-edge research, collaboration, and knowledge exchange.
Trieste, Italy – The AVITHRAPID project is excited to participate in the upcoming International Conference titled “Pandemic Preparedness: Achievements, Current Challenges, and New Frontiers” from 11 November 2024 at the prestigious Savoia Excelsior Palace in Trieste, Italy. Organized by Area Science Park in collaboration with the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), this event is part of the PRP@CERIC project, dedicated to exploring preparedness for emerging and re-emerging viruses with pandemic potential.
This conference convenes leading scientists to explore epidemic risks from known and emerging viruses. It will focus on prevention, surveillance, drug discovery, and treatment, fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration among experts in artificial intelligence, virology, genomics, and more. The event aims to encourage multidisciplinary cooperation and the development of comprehensive strategies to combat pandemic threats.
Topics of discussion will include:
- Emerging and re-emerging viruses with pandemic potential
- Viral zoonoses risks and mitigation strategies
- Diagnostics, surveillance, and capacity-building in resource-limited settings
- Immunization and preventive measures
- Drug discovery to prepare for future pandemics
- Biosafety and biosecurity in handling viral infections
- Multidisciplinary approaches and infrastructure for pandemic response
As part of its involvement, AVITHRAPID will present its latest achievements and discuss its approach to drug repurposing, bioactivity screening, and rapid-response research. Members of AVITHRAPID’s Work Packages will meet to evaluate project milestones, share insights, and strategize on future initiatives, particularly in drug discovery and pandemic preparedness. For live updates and more information on AVITHRAPID’s activities during the conference, follow us on social media and visit our website.
Contact
Silvano Coletti, Head of Communication AVITHRAPID Project, Executive Director Chelonia, silvano.coletti@chelonia.swiss
The AVITHRAPID Project
The European consortium “Antiviral Therapeutics for Rapid Response Against Pandemic Infectious Diseases” AVITHRAPID is part of the EU Horizon Europe Framework Programme topic “Pandemic preparedness and response: Broad spectrum anti-viral therapeutics for infectious diseases with epidemic potential”. The AVITHRAPID research consortium comprises 18 research institutions and companies from 8 countries, coordinated by the German Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft. AVITHRAPID started in January 2024 with a duration of 54 months and a budget of 7.5 million EUR. The Swiss Partners in the AVITHRAPID consortium are funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI. The aim of AVITHRAPID is to establish a pipeline of early-stage drug candidates based on a set of small molecules whose bioactivity has been shown and which can be rapidly translated into novel antiviral agents against emerging diseases. In addition, the AVITHRAPID consortium aims to test a small molecule against Zika virus in a clinical trial.
AVITHRAPID is funded by the European Union under grant agreement No 101137192 and by the Swiss Confederation, State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI.
www.avithrapid.eu