Building a ’vaccine library’ to prevent future pandemics

Humboldt Prof. Jens Meiler and project manager Dr. Clara T. Schoeder analyze protein structures. Photo: Swen Reichhold The Institute for Drug Discovery led by Humboldt Professor Jens Meiler is to receive 1.9 million dollars (1.77 million euros) for the development of vaccines. The international Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI) will fund computer-aided vaccine development at Leipzig University with the aim of building a digital -vaccine library- of components and virtual antigen designs. Using classical and AI-based software, vaccine candidates will be designed for ten priority virus families with epidemic and pandemic potential, with the aim of developing a potential vaccine in the shortest possible time in the event that a new viral threat emerges. Social upheavals such as globalisation, urbanisation and climate change promote and increase the likelihood and frequency of viral outbreaks that could lead to new pandemics. With the outbreak and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, the world experienced the existential and long-lasting impact that viral mutation can have. To be better prepared for a future pandemic, CEPI is investing in a research project to develop novel antigen designs at the Institute of Drug Discovery at the Faculty of Medicine.