The Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry PAS participates in the international project VERPI – The Global Viral Ecosystem Research and Preparedness Initiative, funded under the Horizon Europe programme (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions). The project started on 1 October 2025 and will be carried out over a period of four years.

The aim of the VERPI project is to develop global research capacities for preparedness against emerging viral threats by strengthening international collaboration, advancing new research methodologies, and developing strategies supporting the detection, monitoring, and prevention of future epidemics.

The project started on 1 October 2025 and will be carried out over a period of four years within an international consortium of 10 partner institutions from Europe, Africa, North America, and Asia. The consortium is coordinated by University College Dublin (Ireland) under the leadership of Dr Virginie W. Gautier. In addition to the IBCH PAS, the consortium includes Capital Region of Denmark (Denmark), University of St Andrews (United Kingdom), Makerere University Lung Institute (Uganda), Uganda National Health Research Organisation (Uganda), Université Catholique de Bukavu (Democratic Republic of the Congo), Washington University in St. Louis (USA), The University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (USA), and Hokkaido University Institute for Vaccine Research and Development (Japan).

Within the project, Prof. Elżbieta Kierzek from the Department of RNA Structural Genomics leads the implementation of Work Package 2 (WP2). Together with her team, she conducts research focused on the development of new antiviral strategies, including antiviral drugs, monoclonal antibodies, and diagnostic tools.

The participation of IBCH PAS in the VERPI project highlights the importance of research conducted at the Institute on RNA biology and viruses, as well as its potential for developing innovative solutions supporting public health.

More information about the project: https://verpi.eu/

Funded by the European Union under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, Staff Exchange (MSCA SE),  Horizon Europe, Grant Agreement No 101237031 – VERPI.