SHIELD
Results and Impact
SHIELD delivers new scientific results on viral entry and glycosylation, with the goal of impactful advances in diagnostics, therapies, and pandemic preparedness.
Expected outcomes and Impact
The SHIELD consortium aims to develop a comprehensive technology platform to understand, probe and interfere with viral protein glycosylation and host cell entry by targeting virion dynamics. These novel targets will unlock new diagnostic and therapeutic modalities orthogonal to current trends in antiviral development.
The ultimate impact of the SHIELD project is to enhance Europe’s preparedness for emerging viral diseases caused by viruses from the genera of mammarenavirus (LASV), henipavirus (NiV, HeV), and flavivirus (DENV, WNV, ZIKV, YFV). SHIELD will contribute to increasing Europe’s preparedness along three, interrelated impact pathways:
Impact Pathways
Pathway 1: SHIELD will result in novel identified and characterised surface proteins – which can be further evaluated as therapeutic and/or vaccine targets and proof-of-concept for a new generation of first-in-class therapies against these viral infections.
Pathway 2: We will deliver a robust, multi-technique pipeline and standard operating procedures for rapid, precise evaluation of both known and emerging viruses.
Pathway 3: We are committed to building capacity and expertise across the consortium – establishing the intellectual infrastructure needed to respond swiftly and effectively to future viral outbreaks.
Funding information
Programme: Horizon Europe
Call: HORIZON-HLTH-2024-DISEASE-08-20
Grant agreement no: 101191794
Overall funding: 7 978 165,75 €
Period: 1 January 2025 to 31 December 2029
Co-Funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation (SERI)
