Paula Videira, leader of the Glycoimmunology Lab at UCIBIO - FCT NOVA, has been awarded 30 K€ for the research project “GLYCOVID-19 Testing existing glycan-based drugs to neutralize SARS-CoV- 2”, in the scope of the “Research 4 COVID-19” funding call launched by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT). FCT announced today the results of the “Research 4 COVID-19” funding call, supporting, with 1.8 M€ total funding, 66 projects to contribute to improving the response to the needs of the National Health Service.
Paula Videira explains that “glycans are key mediators of coronavirus infections dictating attachment to human cells. We will test glycan nutraceuticals, humanized anti-glycan antibodies and convalescent plasma, already developed by the team, for their potential to neutralize SARS-CoV-2 entry during infection. The tests will take less than 3 months to implement, and effective compounds may be easily suggested for clinical trials by the National Health Service”.
The project is led by Paula Videira and the consortium includes CellmAbs, Pharma73, VectorB2B, INSA, IPO-Porto, Hospital São João and Centro Hospitalar Universitário do Porto.
FCT, in collaboration with the Agency for Clinical Research and Biomedical Innovation, has launched the call for proposals “Research 4 COVID-19” with the purpose to fund short R&D projects and initiatives, for a period of up to three months, and a budget limit of 30 K€, to assist immediately the National Health Service, Health Care institutions, develop prevention tools and ongoing initiatives.
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