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Associate Professor Martin Tolstrup from Aarhus University and Aarhus University Hospital, together with the Danish biotech company Symphogen, receives almost DKK five million from the Innovation Fund Denmark for research into the development of artificial antibodies to fight COVID-19.
2020.05.12 |
Martin Tolstrup from Department of Clinical Medicine has been awarded a new grant for his corona research. Photo: Tonny Foghmar/AUH.
As part of the research project CoroNAT headed by Associate Professor Martin Tolstrup, the best antibodies from healthy COVID-19 patients will form the basis for new treatment of the most poorly COVID-19 patients.
Martin Tolstrup and his research colleagues have already begun collecting and analysing naturally formed antibodies from patients who have recovered after having been infected with COVID-19. The researchers will now take the next step and identify the molecular code for a wide range of the most effective antibodies. This is being done in a collaboration with the company Symphogen in Ballerup.
The antibodies can attach to the spike proteins of corona virus and prevent it from entering the cells. Illustration: Jonathan Bjerg Møller/Health Communication.
The goal is to develop and begin large-scale production of artificial and stable antibodies based on the molecular code from the best natural antibodies. These manufactured antibodies can be utilised in the prevention and treatment of COVID-19. In addition, knowledge of how the best antibodies bind onto the corona virus could also be utilised in the development of a vaccine.
The grant of DKK 4.9 million is part of the Innovation Fund Denmark's extraordinary COVID-19 call.
This coverage is partly based on press material from the Innovation Fund Denmark.
Read more about Martin Tolstrup’s corona research in the article ”Can blood from COVID-19 patients who have recovered help newly-infected patients?” on the faculty’s website.
Associate Professor, MSc Martin Tolstrup
Aarhus University, Department of Clinical Medicine and
Aarhus University Hospital, Department of Infectious Diseases
Mobile: (+45) 2067 9741
Email: mtol@clin.au.dk