Experimental and computational methods to better understand and exploit viral envelopes for diagnostic and screening purposes

The increasing frequency and magnitude of viral outbreaks in recent decades, epitomized by the current COVID-19 pandemic, has resulted in an urgent need for sensitive and accurate diagnostics. Viruses affect both animals and humans and it is expected that due to various parameters such as globalisation and global warming the incidence and prevalence of viral endemics and pandemics will increase in the coming years. This project aspires to develop the tools for the new generation of viral diagnostics utilising fluorescent microscopy and machine learning and exploiting the viral envelope's chemistry.