Role and Contribution
Department of Medical Microbiology at LUMC is headed by Professor Willy J.M. Spaan. It employs more than 130 people working on viral genome structure, expression and evolution, pathogenesis, diagnosis of virus infections and vaccine development. The more than 25 researchers united in the Molecular Virology Laboratory form a multidisciplinary team, with expertise in virus bioinformatics, molecular genetics, and biochemistry. This group is among the world leaders in studies of the molecular mechanisms and evolution of the replicative machinery of RNA viruses, particularly coronaviruses and other nidoviruses. The LUMC has state-of-the-art facilities to study viruses theoretically and experimentallyLUMC is the coordinator of two FP5 research programmes and a FP6 recently approved Network of Excellence (viRgil).
The people involved in the VIZIER project are : A. E. Gorbalenya, Associate Professor and Head of Virus Bioinformatics group. He published more than 100 peer-reviewed papers, mostly on the analysis of replicases of diverse RNA viruses. He serves on a number of the International Committees and Boards concerned with Viruses and Bioinformatics. E. J. Snijder, Associate Professor and Head of Nidovirus Group. He developed the arterivirus prototype into one of the best-studied nidovirus models whose molecular biology is described in more than 65 research papers and reviews. The main focus of his research is the analysis of structure-function relationships of nidovirus replicative enzymes. His research has been strongly supported nationally and his expertise has been sought after by many international virology organizations. K. Moran, post-doctoral fellow, is working on the identification and genetic characterization of novel mammalian RNA viruses. J. C. Dobbe, Technician of the Nidovirus group, has worked with a variety of nidoviruses over the past 8 years. F. van Herwijnen, Engineer, is responsible for administrating the bioinformatics UNIX/LINUX-based computer network.
LUMC Leiden, NL
