Dunn School Coronavirus research boosted with grant award to newly recruited Group Leader
The funding, awarded in April 2020 is part of the rapid research response, funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and by the Department of Health and Social Care through the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR).
Dr Sanyal joined the Dunn School in early 2020, from the University of Hong Kong. Her research investigates how viruses evade the immune system – a research focus of critical importance in the face of the current pandemic.
Dr Sanyal explains: “I am happy that we are able to contribute to the global effort in understanding the biology of SARS-CoV-2. It is evident that Sars-CoV-2 uses enzymes in our cells to replicate and infect additional cells. My group plans to identify these enzymes and determine why they are required for the virus. This information will provide a more comprehensive understanding of the virus, and subsequently pave new paths for developing targeted drugs.”
The UKRI is the national funding agency, supporting scientific research in universities, research institutes, businesses, and others. In addition to Dr Sanyal’s research, UKRI selected 20 other projects, including vaccine and diagnostic test development, population surveillance, and others.
Written by Shaked Ashkenazi