INnate-ImmunomeTabolIsm as Antiviral TargEt

INnate-ImmunomeTabolIsm as Antiviral TargEt

Viral outbreaks and epidemics continue to impose high morbidity and mortality burdens in mankind and animals, emphasizing the urgent need for the continuous improvement and innovation of our antiviral strategies. The innate immune system is pivotal for effective anti-viral defences. This field is now being revolutionised by the recognition that metabolic re-programming has a major impact on the host antiviral and inflammatory response to virus infections. The development of strategies targeted to these pathways represents an exciting new frontier for antiviral remedies. To drive this emerging field of antiviral immunometabolism and its application to viral diseases, INITIATE (INnate-ImmunomeTabolIsm as Antiviral TargEt) brings together a highly complementary team of world leaders, both academic and corporate, from the historically distinct research fields of virology, innate immunity and cellular metabolism in order to train a new generation of interdisciplinary scientists. Specifically, INITIATE will deliver training on the interrelationships between viral infection, host metabolism and immune defences through related and interdependent research projects, complemented with interdisciplinary and intersectoral secondments. Local and network-wide scientific workshops will be supplemented with transferrable skill workshops devoted to academia/industry collaboration, research dissemination and translation of knowledge into novel therapeutic interventions, public engagement and a successful research environment. INITIATE will result in a new generation of creative, entrepreneurial and innovative top-level interdisciplinary researchers, who will be at the forefront of the emerging research field of ‘antiviral immunometabolism’. These scientists will be able to face the inevitable future challenges in combating viral and other diseases, and they will be highly attractive to European Life Sciences industry and academia.