COVID-19 Drug-Screening and Resistance Hub (CRUSH)
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Glasgow
Department Name: UNLISTED
Abstract
CRUSH was founded in 2020 to address an acute gap in the landscape of antiviral development. The response to the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the high demand and limited provision of facilities and expertise to aid the development of therapeutics and devices targeting high-consequence viruses.
The CVR is one of a limited number of UK institutions with the necessary infrastructure and virology expertise to support such studies. We have developed models that can support SARS-CoV-2 research, but they must be handled in high containment facilities (known as biosafety level 3, BSL-3) and require specialised molecular virology expertise. This type of work can help screen and identify potential antiviral drugs that can ultimately be used to help patients.
CRUSH activities have initially focused on SARS-CoV-2, but we have now adapted our models to include other emerging viruses of concern, e.g. monkeypox. We want CRUSH to be a stable?and sustainable?resource for the UK’s research communities?to accelerate drug discovery for?any?known or novel?high consequence?virus requiring high containment facilities. A strategic goal of CRUSH and partners is to establish a foundation for broader collaboration and innovation across the Life Sciences sector and to be prepared to rapidly respond to future viral outbreaks.
The CVR is one of a limited number of UK institutions with the necessary infrastructure and virology expertise to support such studies. We have developed models that can support SARS-CoV-2 research, but they must be handled in high containment facilities (known as biosafety level 3, BSL-3) and require specialised molecular virology expertise. This type of work can help screen and identify potential antiviral drugs that can ultimately be used to help patients.
CRUSH activities have initially focused on SARS-CoV-2, but we have now adapted our models to include other emerging viruses of concern, e.g. monkeypox. We want CRUSH to be a stable?and sustainable?resource for the UK’s research communities?to accelerate drug discovery for?any?known or novel?high consequence?virus requiring high containment facilities. A strategic goal of CRUSH and partners is to establish a foundation for broader collaboration and innovation across the Life Sciences sector and to be prepared to rapidly respond to future viral outbreaks.
Technical Summary
Working in collaboration with LifeArc, MRC and Drug Discovery Unit (DDU) at the University of Dundee, the CVR created a translational hub for antiviral drug screening and resistance development. CRUSH is a fully integrated single-site hub with biocontainment facilities and expertise dedicated to accelerating antiviral therapeutic discovery for SARS-CoV-2 and other high consequence viruses requiring BSL2 (CL2) & BSL3 (CL3) containment.
It is a one-stop facility with capabilities to perform medium- to high-throughput screens of antivirals, serology/virus neutralisation assays, hit validations in primary cultures and against panels of variant viruses, kinetic assays, assays to determine genetic barrier to resistance to selected hits, real-time monitoring of emerging mutations, and finally efficacy evaluations in pre-clinical small animal models.
We will develop the newly established CRUSH platform as a vehicle for translation in the CVR and to boost our engagement with industry, but also to interface with the CVR’s Preparedness Platform. Established with funding from LifeArc and the MRC, CRUSH is a translational hub, facilitating the CVR’s interface with industry. It is a one-stop, self-sustaining facility designed to aid pre-clinical development of antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses requiring CL3 containment. Over the next quinquennium, we will further develop high-throughput assays that can be performed at both CL2 and CL3 levels to increase the capacity of the facility, and the use of experimental animal models. Specifically, CRUSH conducts drug screening and neutralisation assays for SARS-CoV-2 including alpha, beta, gamma, delta, omicron variants and new variants as they arise. New assays have been developed for monkeypox (Mpox) virus and influenza A. Other viral targets currently included under development for screening services include seasonal coronaviruses, influenza A/B, RSV, enteroviruses, rotavirus and arboviruses.
CRUSH will support the implementation of a quality management system and integration of laboratory information management system (LIMS) encompassing an ELN/Bio-registry, to support data integrity and management. Additionally, the optimisation and development of a high-throughput screening system and completion/publication of in vivo models and exemplar studies. Our animal licence has now been extended to encompass transmission studies, vaccines/immunomodulators and flow cytometry and we intend to extend this further to include Mpox virus and anti-viral drug evaluation.
The long-term goal of CRUSH is to create a stable and sustainable resource for the UK’s academic and industrial community to help accelerate drug discovery for any known or novel high consequence virus requiring high containment facilities.
It is a one-stop facility with capabilities to perform medium- to high-throughput screens of antivirals, serology/virus neutralisation assays, hit validations in primary cultures and against panels of variant viruses, kinetic assays, assays to determine genetic barrier to resistance to selected hits, real-time monitoring of emerging mutations, and finally efficacy evaluations in pre-clinical small animal models.
We will develop the newly established CRUSH platform as a vehicle for translation in the CVR and to boost our engagement with industry, but also to interface with the CVR’s Preparedness Platform. Established with funding from LifeArc and the MRC, CRUSH is a translational hub, facilitating the CVR’s interface with industry. It is a one-stop, self-sustaining facility designed to aid pre-clinical development of antiviral drugs against SARS-CoV-2 and other viruses requiring CL3 containment. Over the next quinquennium, we will further develop high-throughput assays that can be performed at both CL2 and CL3 levels to increase the capacity of the facility, and the use of experimental animal models. Specifically, CRUSH conducts drug screening and neutralisation assays for SARS-CoV-2 including alpha, beta, gamma, delta, omicron variants and new variants as they arise. New assays have been developed for monkeypox (Mpox) virus and influenza A. Other viral targets currently included under development for screening services include seasonal coronaviruses, influenza A/B, RSV, enteroviruses, rotavirus and arboviruses.
CRUSH will support the implementation of a quality management system and integration of laboratory information management system (LIMS) encompassing an ELN/Bio-registry, to support data integrity and management. Additionally, the optimisation and development of a high-throughput screening system and completion/publication of in vivo models and exemplar studies. Our animal licence has now been extended to encompass transmission studies, vaccines/immunomodulators and flow cytometry and we intend to extend this further to include Mpox virus and anti-viral drug evaluation.
The long-term goal of CRUSH is to create a stable and sustainable resource for the UK’s academic and industrial community to help accelerate drug discovery for any known or novel high consequence virus requiring high containment facilities.
Organisations
- University of Glasgow (Lead Research Organisation)
- Animal and Plant Health Agency (Collaboration)
- University of Glasgow (Collaboration)
- UK HEALTH SECURITY AGENCY (Collaboration)
- Health Protection Agency (Collaboration)
- University of Michigan (Collaboration)
- GUY'S AND ST THOMAS' NHS FOUNDATION TRUST (Collaboration)
- University of Surrey (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON (Collaboration)
- Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) (Collaboration)
- University of Oxford (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM (Collaboration)
- THE PIRBRIGHT INSTITUTE (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF DUNDEE (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH (Collaboration)
- Medical Research Council (MRC) (Collaboration)
- Pompeu Fabra University (Collaboration)
Publications
Furnon W
(2025)
Phenotypic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 spike during the COVID-19 pandemic
in Nature Microbiology
Herder V
(2023)
Comparative analysis of pulmonary immunopathology in COVID-19 patients and experimentally SARS-CoV-2 infected hamsters
in Journal of Comparative Pathology
Mears HV
(2025)
Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 subgenomic RNAs that enhance viral fitness and immune evasion.
in PLoS biology
Meehan GR
(2023)
Phenotyping the virulence of SARS-CoV-2 variants in hamsters by digital pathology and machine learning.
in PLoS pathogens
Nyirenda J
(2024)
Spatially resolved single-cell atlas unveils a distinct cellular signature of fatal lung COVID-19 in a Malawian population
in Nature Medicine
Ogger PP
(2024)
SARS-CoV-2 strains bearing Omicron BA.1 spike replicate in C57BL/6 mice.
in Frontiers in immunology
Reuschl AK
(2024)
Evolution of enhanced innate immune suppression by SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariants.
in Nature microbiology
Samolej J
(2024)
Bisbenzimide compounds inhibit the replication of prototype and pandemic potential poxviruses.
in Microbiology spectrum
| Description | Accelerating the discovery, development and/or testing of therapeutics that can be deployed to treat the symptoms of COVID-19 |
| Amount | £2,026,857 (GBP) |
| Organisation | LifeArc |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2021 |
| End | 03/2025 |
| Description | Evolutionarily smart vaccine strain selection for proactive vaccinology |
| Amount | £8,566,200 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/Y004337/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2024 |
| End | 12/2028 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Research Response |
| Amount | £739,657 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | BB/X011607/1 |
| Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2022 |
| End | 08/2023 |
| Description | The G2P2 virology consortium: keeping pace with SARS-CoV-2 variants, providing evidence to vaccine policy, and building agility for the next pandemic |
| Amount | £7,793,458 (GBP) |
| Funding ID | MR/Y004205/1 |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2023 |
| End | 09/2027 |
| Title | Acquisition of a high-content imaging system |
| Description | We recently acquired a high-content cell imaging multimode microscope/reader and compatible microplate stacker. |
| Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
| Year Produced | 2024 |
| Provided To Others? | No |
| Impact | The equipment has just been obtained. Using this microscope, we will be able to conduct new fluorescence-based assays that, for example, calculate the percentage of infected cells or monitor intracellular changes following treatment with antiviral compounds of interest. It will also allow for unbiased and automated plaque and infectious foci-counting to be able to capture data from plaque/focus-forming assays in a more efficient manner. |
| Title | Development of a digital pathology pipeline |
| Description | We established a digital pathology pipeline for histopathology diagnosis of animal tissues and organs of small animals experimentally infected with SARS-CoV-2. - Quantification of morphological findings - Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for immunophenotyping and detection of viral or cellular proteins of interest - In situ-hybridisation (bright field and fluorescent; including multiplex staining) to detect viral and cellular RNA interest - Software-assisted quantification (HALO, Aperio, QuPath) of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and in situ-hybridisation of whole scanned slides - Scanning and archiving of whole microscopic slides - Deep phenotyping of tissue microenvironment (PhenoCycler) - Spatial transcriptomics using the Nanostring GeoMx-technology |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | The digital pathology pipeline has enabled us to perform: - Quantification of morphological findings - Immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence for immunophenotyping and detection of viral or cellular proteins of interest - In situ-hybridisation (bright field and fluorescent; including multiplex staining) to detect viral and cellular RNA interest - Software-assisted quantification (HALO, Aperio, QuPath) of immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescence and in situ-hybridisation of whole scanned slides - Scanning and archiving of whole microscopic slides - Deep phenotyping of tissue microenvironment (PhenoCycler) - Spatial transcriptomics using the Nanostring GeoMx-technology |
| Title | Development of bespoke antiviral screening assays |
| Description | As part of CRUSH remit, our team developed and optimised different in vitro cell-based virus infections assays to evaluate the efficacy of new and existing antiviral (e.g. SARS-CoV-2, MPXV) compounds and drugs. |
| Type Of Material | Technology assay or reagent |
| Year Produced | 2023 |
| Provided To Others? | Yes |
| Impact | Such adaptations have enabled us to accurately evaluate the antiviral activities of compounds of interest, and resulted in one publication to-date (Samolej et al 2024 Microbiology Spectrum 20:e0407223. |
| Description | Anti-SARS-COV-2 NSP14 Inhibitors: Target Engagement Assay Development |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Department | Drug Discovery Unit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | • All cell related work • Prepare cell culture lysates (Vero E6 ± SARS-CoV-2 ± compound) in Trizol for total RNA extraction and ship to Dundee for CAP-MAP and analysis of mRNA cap methylation, i.e. target engagement. • Prepare cell culture supernatants (Vero E6 ± SARS-CoV-2 ± compound) in Trizol for RNA extraction and qPCR and analysis of the viral load, i.e. antiviral activity. • qRT-PCR on samples to determine the viral load Mutual contributions 1. Knowledge sharing in various disciplines, including biology, virology and medicinal chemistry. 2. Sharing of experimental methods and contribution to/reviewing of anticipated manuscript. |
| Collaborator Contribution | • Select and provide the appropriate active/inactive compounds to be tested in this collaboration. • Biology support in the experimental design at CRUSH. • CAP-MAP on samples provided by CRUSH group. • Data analysis and interpretation. Mutual contributions 1. Knowledge sharing in various disciplines, including biology, virology and medicinal chemistry. 2. Sharing of experimental methods and contribution to/reviewing of anticipated manuscript. |
| Impact | Outcomes: • The initial experiments were unsuccessful and we are in the process of repeating some of this work to provide further samples for our partners at DDU to test, currently awaiting outcome of these experiments. |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Coronavirus molecular biology and virus-host interactions |
| Organisation | University of Dundee |
| Department | MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Together with several CVR colleagues, we have initiated work on coronaviruses with the aim of establishing a long term programme on these viruses at the CVR. We are have propagated the Wuhan COVID-19 virus and a number of related clincal isolates,as well as the hazard group 2 coronaviruses HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-NL63. We are also expecting to generate stocks of SARS-CoV. In addition to this we have put in place protocols and systems to generate/rescue all these viral isolates by reverse genetics to allow mutational studies and to generate reporter viruses (such as GFP-expressing viruses). We have generated a large number of antibodies and other reagents against different CoVs, and some of this work is being done in collaboration with the MRC Phophorylation Unit in Dundee. We are generating SARS-CoV-2 mutants by reverse genetics as part of our role in the national consortium G2P-UK (Genotype to Phenotype), the aim of which is to determine the biological properties of SARS-CoV-2 lineages as they arise in the UK. Establishment of CVR-CRUSH, a COVID-19 Drug-Screening and Resistance Hub) dedicated to accelerating antiviral therapeutic discovery for SARS-CoV-2 and any other high consequence viruses. We have established antiviral screens and virus neutralisation assays. We are putting in place state-of-the-art high-throughput robotic systems for enhancement of our drug screenning capabilities, and are in the process of establishing small animal models for the pre-clinical evaluation of drugs and therapeutics in in vivo settings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Establishment of various virological assay systems Production of antibodies, cell lines and other reagents |
| Impact | Papers published to date: Rihn et al. (2021). PLoS Biol 19(2): e3001091. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001091. Gordon et al. (2020). Science 370, eabe9403 (2020). DOI: 10.1126/science.abe9403. Szemiel et al (2021). PLoS Pathogens 17(9): e1009929. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009929. Davies et al (2022). PLoS Pathogens DOI: 10.1101/2021.06.23.21259327, PMCID: PMC8639073. Zhou et al (2022). Cell Reports https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110344. Lista et al (2022). J. Virol., 96 (23) e01250-22, https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01250-22. Bouhaddou et al (2023). Cell 186, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.026. Reuschl et al (2024). Nat. Microbiol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01588-4. Ogger et al. (2024). Frontiers in Immunology, 15:1383612. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383612. Mears et al (2025). PLoS Biol 23(1): e3002982. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002982. Screening of antiviral drugs and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, virus neutralisation and other virological assays, various virus inactivation studies. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Coronavirus molecular biology and virus-host interactions |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Department | MRC - University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Together with several CVR colleagues, we have initiated work on coronaviruses with the aim of establishing a long term programme on these viruses at the CVR. We are have propagated the Wuhan COVID-19 virus and a number of related clincal isolates,as well as the hazard group 2 coronaviruses HCoV-229E, HCoV-OC43, and HCoV-NL63. We are also expecting to generate stocks of SARS-CoV. In addition to this we have put in place protocols and systems to generate/rescue all these viral isolates by reverse genetics to allow mutational studies and to generate reporter viruses (such as GFP-expressing viruses). We have generated a large number of antibodies and other reagents against different CoVs, and some of this work is being done in collaboration with the MRC Phophorylation Unit in Dundee. We are generating SARS-CoV-2 mutants by reverse genetics as part of our role in the national consortium G2P-UK (Genotype to Phenotype), the aim of which is to determine the biological properties of SARS-CoV-2 lineages as they arise in the UK. Establishment of CVR-CRUSH, a COVID-19 Drug-Screening and Resistance Hub) dedicated to accelerating antiviral therapeutic discovery for SARS-CoV-2 and any other high consequence viruses. We have established antiviral screens and virus neutralisation assays. We are putting in place state-of-the-art high-throughput robotic systems for enhancement of our drug screenning capabilities, and are in the process of establishing small animal models for the pre-clinical evaluation of drugs and therapeutics in in vivo settings. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Establishment of various virological assay systems Production of antibodies, cell lines and other reagents |
| Impact | Papers published to date: Rihn et al. (2021). PLoS Biol 19(2): e3001091. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3001091. Gordon et al. (2020). Science 370, eabe9403 (2020). DOI: 10.1126/science.abe9403. Szemiel et al (2021). PLoS Pathogens 17(9): e1009929. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.ppat.1009929. Davies et al (2022). PLoS Pathogens DOI: 10.1101/2021.06.23.21259327, PMCID: PMC8639073. Zhou et al (2022). Cell Reports https://doi.org/10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110344. Lista et al (2022). J. Virol., 96 (23) e01250-22, https://doi.org/10.1128/jvi.01250-22. Bouhaddou et al (2023). Cell 186, 1-18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2023.08.026. Reuschl et al (2024). Nat. Microbiol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41564-023-01588-4. Ogger et al. (2024). Frontiers in Immunology, 15:1383612. https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2024.1383612. Mears et al (2025). PLoS Biol 23(1): e3002982. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pbio.3002982. Screening of antiviral drugs and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2, virus neutralisation and other virological assays, various virus inactivation studies. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Develop and validate a qPCR method for AAV2 |
| Organisation | UK Health Security Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | UKHSA require an accurate standardised PCR test for detection of AAV2 for UK wide screening. We are required to test, optimise, and develop SOP for detection of AAV2 by qPCR and prepare a standard operating procedure for transfer back into UKHSA sites. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Provision of 30-40 patient samples, and access to existing qPCR testing protocols currently in use across industry, government and academia. |
| Impact | This is multidisciplinary involving a collaboration between government organisations and our research centre. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Evaluation of antiviral efficacy of Lectin compounds against MPXV With University of Michigan |
| Organisation | University of Michigan |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | H84T and H84G BanLEc derivatives were provided to us for use in our Mpox screening workflow to test and the screen the material alongside our standard inhibitor controls for activity against MPXV, assessing their potential antiviral activity at different concentrations in cultured cell lines. Critical to this project was having access to the circulating clades (MPXV Clades 1A,2A and 2B) and the required CL3 containment laboratory. We carried out in vitro experiments to determine if the compounds could be an effective antiviral treatment option. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Development of compounds with potential activity against Mpox clades resistant to current treatment regimes. |
| Impact | David Markovitz M.D. is a Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases who also has appointments in the programs in Cellular and Molecular Biology, Cancer Biology, and Immunology at the University of Michigan, this project was facilitated through the UKHSA, who linked our institutions. The particular compounds tested did not show activity against the Mpox clades screened. Any modifications to the compounds could be screened in the future. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | Animal and Plant Health Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | Defence Science & Technology Laboratory (DSTL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | Health Protection Agency |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | Imperial College London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | The Pirbright Institute |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Birmingham |
| Department | Institute of Microbiology and Infection |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Edinburgh |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Oxford Hub |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Monkeypox Rapid Response Consortium |
| Organisation | University of Surrey |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Purpose of the consortium was to study the monkeypox outbreak to better understand how to tackle it. We developed an new antiviral drug assay for mpox and screened a range of compounds prepared by Jason Mercer's group, University of Birmingham. This new assay workflow enabled us to work on subsequent industry funded project, and assist in the response to help test samples from a NHS patient suffering from a drug resistant strain of monkeypox. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Preparation of the compound library for screening through our assay, from the University of Birmingham. Results from these screens showed that the tested bisbenzimide compounds were inhibitors of both prototypic and pandemic potential poxviruses and could be developed for use in situations where anti-poxvirus drug resistance may occur. |
| Impact | Outputs: -https://doi.org/10.1128/spectrum.04072-23 -development of mpox antiviral drug screening assay Outcomes: -expanded our antiviral workflow for poxviruses, with future work planned to adapt to a high throughput assay screen -able to respond to healthcare emergencies relating to mpox virus -partners on this project have a policy making remit |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Study to evaluate potential antiviral efficacy of a small molecule RNA against SARS-CoV-2 in vivo |
| Organisation | Pompeu Fabra University |
| Country | Spain |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Design and conduct a small in vivo study to examine the effectiveness of a RNA molecule, developed by University Pompeu Fabra, against SARS-CoV-2. We conducted a small study, in accordance with the 3Rs principle, to examine the effect of CircRNA treatment in hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Partner provided the CircRNA samples and data around mode of action. |
| Impact | Outputs: -publication pending Outcomes: |
| Start Year | 2023 |
| Description | Test antiviral activity of neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 In vitro and In vivo screens |
| Organisation | Medical Research Council (MRC) |
| Department | MRC Human Genetics Unit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | To carry out in vitro and in vivo screens of monoclonal antibodies that are hypothesised to target the SARSCoV-2 membrane protein. We have assessed and optimised the screens for cell lines and conditions in in vitro and will then progress to in vivo hamster models. |
| Collaborator Contribution | To develop and examine the potential for monoclonal antibodies that can target the SARS-CoV-2 membrane protein as a new approach to COVID-19 treatment. |
| Impact | No outputs as yet, project still active, funded through MRC IAA award. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | PCR Workshop for Higher and Advanced Higher pupils are invited to complete a viral diagnosis using PCR, participate in an interesting ethical debate, and attend a careers session. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Higher and Advanced Higher pupils attended a workshop event to complete a viral diagnosis using PCR, participate in an interesting ethical debate, and attend a careers session. STEM outreach event and preparation, participation and demonstration by technicians working as part of this award. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023,2024 |