B.C. sea sponge has COVID-blocking powers
UBC researchers have identified three compounds that prevent COVID-19 infection in human cells, derived from natural sources including a B.C. sea sponge. The discovery paves the way for the development of new medicines for COVID-19 variants made from natural sources. And given nature’s abundance, there could be a wealth of new antivirals waiting to be […]
New CoVarRR-Net funding supports LSI research in new and emerging treatments for SARS-CoV-2 infection
As Canada Tackles its 7th COVID-19 Wave, Covid-19 research network CoVarr-Net funded 15 New Studies to examine solutions to Omicron and other variants. Dr. François Jean, lead of Pillar 10: Antiviral Strategies and Antiviral Therapeutics, has been designated Project Lead of “Therapeutic Approaches and Emerging Therapies for SARS-CoV-2 VOCs: Mono or Combination Therapy, Mechanisms, and […]
LSI researchers draw more than $8M in CIHR Spring 2022 Project Grants
Congratulations to the successful applicants in the CIHR Spring 2022 Project Grant competition! Listed below are the PIs on the ten funded projects. LSI Director Dr. Josef Penninger and Deputy Director Dr. James Johnson described the results as a remarkable success: 42% of the LSI applications were approved, whereas the Canadian national and UBC averages are […]
Futuristic coating for hospital fabrics and activewear kills COVID virus and E. coli
UBC researchers have developed an inexpensive, non-toxic coating for almost any fabric that decreases the infectivity of the virus that causes COVID-19 by up to 90 per cent. And in the future, you might be able to spray it on fabric yourself. “When you’re walking into a hospital, you want to know that pillow you’re […]
Researchers’ efforts to screen billions of antiviral drugs to find potential COVID-19 treatments relies on AI
A team led by Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute’s Dr. Artem Cherkasov has screened 40 billion small molecule compounds in 19 days, seeking to find potential drugs to treat COVID-19. An article published this month in Chemical Sciences that includes LSI’s Dr. Natalie Strynadka (Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) and Dr. François Jean (Department […]
LSI draws $3.3 million in federal funding for COVID-19 research
Researchers at the Life Sciences Institute have received a total of $3,318,600 in the latest round of funding from the federal government in support of research aimed at addressing the COVID-19 outbreak. Four LSI teams, all focusing on drug research, will be led by Drs. Josef Penninger, Natalie Strynadka, and Pieter Cullis, and Dr. Francois […]