Prof. David Lembo Group (Head, Laboratory of Molecular Virology and Antiviral Research) - University of Turin, Turin, Italy:
Actively involved in the following area of research with strong relevance to medicine:
- Studies on virus-cell interactions
- Research and development of antiviral molecules with a focus on herpesviruses, papillomaviruses, rotaviruses, rhinoviruses, respiratory syncytial virus and zikavirus
- Research and development of innovative formulations based on nanocarriers for the delivery of antiviral drugs
- Ethnomedicine and Phytomedicine
- Antiviral properties of human milk and colostrum
The research carried out in the lab has generated several international patent applications and two start-ups (RotaLactis and Panoxyvir) in the field of R&D of antiviral drugs.
Prof. Julio A. Seijas's Group (GI-1599 - New Synthetic Methodologies) - University of Santiago de Compostela, Lugo, Spain:
Actively involved in the following area of research with strong relevance to synthetic chemistry:
- Microwave Assisted Organic Synthesis (MAOS)
- Isolation, structural elucidation and synthesis of natural products
- Development of new eco-friendly synthetic methodologies (Green Chemistry)
Prof. B. N. Sinha's Group - Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi, India:
Active domains of research are focused towards Lead generation from Synthetic and Natural sources followed by synthesis of potent molecules, their characterization, and biological activities.
- Synthetic approach: Molecular modeling group actively engaged in rational design of ligands through Structure-Based Drug Design (SBDD) and LIGAND BASED DRUG DESIGN (LBDD). The HITs obtained through in-silico studies are synthesized by synthetic medicinal group. Have collaboration with eminent biologists around the world for screening our molecules.
- Phytochemical approach: Plant materials, claimed to have a particular activity (reviewed through ancient and modern literature) are subjected to usual extraction, isolation of phytoconstituents followed by their characterization to generate a lead. It is modeled and docked against the specified target to propose a few novel analogues, to be synthesized in wet lab.
At present this group is having two collaborative projects with a German Professor and a French Scientist, working for Antivirals, involved in design and synthesis of inhibitors for Dengue and Chikungunya viral infections, funded by DBT (Govt. of India and BMBF).