Grand Challenges Spotlight Talks: (The Battle Against Viruses: No Time to Lose!). Johan Neyts, Head of the Laboratory of Virology, Antiviral Drug & Vaccine Research, Rega Institute, University of Leuven, Belgium
Johan Neyts discusses the importance of R&D to mitigate viral outbreaks. He explains how resource mobilization contributed to rapid and successful COVID-19 vaccine discovery, but certain viruses and future outbreaks may be harder to mitigate. The best way to prepare for these crises, then, is developing broader-acting antiviral drugs in times of peace. To illustrate this point, Neyts highlights programs in which the Belgian government currently invests to aid epidemic and pandemic preparedness.
