On 24 June, Prof. Johan Neyts delivered the 14th Loeffler Lecture to a full auditorium and with lively online participation at the Alfried Krupp Wissenschaftskolleg Greifswald. His research group's work on antiviral drugs based on individual molecules, conducted at the Rega Institute for Medical Research at the University of Leuven, was met with great interest from the audience. Neyts reported on various topics, including the development of a highly effective active ingredient against all four serotypes of the dengue virus, which has already undergone clinical trials.
Antiviral drugs that can be used against entire families of viruses are one of Johan Neyts’ primary areas of research. They offer new approaches for preparing for and combating future epidemics and pandemics. To support pandemic preparedness, his team established a highly automated, high-security platform (Caps-IT) during the pandemic, enabling the testing of millions of potential antiviral compounds. He also discussed the Belgian VirusBank platform, which he leads and which develops tools and active compounds to prepare for future viral outbreaks.
Following the lecture, Prof. Neyts engaged in an intensive discussion with the interested audience of experts, who were visibly pleased by the exchange. At the end of the event, he received the newly designed Loeffler Lecture Award from FLI President Prof. Dr Christa Kühn. The glass sculpture features the laser-engraved name of this year's recipient and a portrait of Friedrich Loeffler, who incidentally was born 174 years ago on 24 June 1852. It was donated by the Supporting Association of the Friedrich Loeffler Institute.
