QCRG Developmental Research Project Awardee

Project: "Development of Novel Antiviral Agents Targeting Viral Helicases"

Q1. What is your project focused on?

• Our project will focus on using using fluorescent-based assays to test inhibitors of helicase enzymes from SARS-CoV-2 and from other RNA viruses with pandemic potential including picornaviruses and flaviviruses. We will also attempt to determine the crystal structure of these helicases with and without the bound inhibitors.

Q2. How does your project align with the Center’s objectives?

• Our focus on helicases complements the current projects examining inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 of other proteins, bringing a new protein as a target for Antiviral drug discovery into the portfolio of QCRG.

Q3. What is the most inspiring aspect about your project/research focus?

• I think the most inspiring aspect is putting to use the platform we build out during the pandemic to purify helicases and monitor activity and now to implement that work to look for novel antivirals.

Q4. Do you think collaboration is important for the progression of your research? If so, why are you interested in connecting with members of the QCRG?

• Our collaborative team at Northwestern has worked together and benefited from the expertise of the different members of the group working together. With the QCRG, we hope to generate close ties with the center cores that can help with computation to propose new classes of ligands using molecular docking and also medicinal chemistry resources to push this project forward faster.

Q5. What are your thoughts on the importance of building pandemic preparedness?

• The paucity of information about RNA viruses in general was revealed with the COVID-19 pandemic. And yet, research did ramp up quickly to bring effective vaccines and drugs to the market in 9-18 months. Notably, the basic science findings supporting the mRNA vaccines as well as the new anti-coronavirus antivirals was all done prior to 2020 due to the outbreaks of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. Thus, there is value in conducting basic science research and discovery of lead antiviral compounds now to build the foundation for rapid ramp up for all types of RNA viruses with the potential for pandemics. It is important for the baseline research to be done to support rapid research in the event of an epidemic or pandemic.