DEHRADUN:  In a breakthrough, the researchers at Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee have identified anti-viral molecules.

“These can be used to treat COVID-19 infections and to prepare for any new variants and future pandemics”, the researchers say.  

The researchers identified three such antiviral molecules through drug repurposing, computational and antiviral experimental studies.

The IIT Roorkee team is executing protein structure-based drug-repurposing research on SARS-CoV2 molecules for clinical evaluation and eventual use as antiviral therapeutics.

The Research Team was led by Prof. Shailly Tomar, Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, IIT Roorkee.

The Research Paper was co-authored by Ruchi Rani, Siwen Long, Akshay Pareek, Preeti Dhaka, Ankur Singh, Pravindra Kumar, Gerald McInerney, and Prof. Tomar. The study is published in the reputed, peer-reviewed journal Virology.

Prof. KK Pant, Director, IIT Roorkee, said, “Such research into SARS-COV-2 virus is critical not only to deal with COVID-19 pandemic but also prepare for any new variants and future pandemics as well”.

“This research can provide valuable inputs to the scientific community to understand such viruses and develop vaccines.”, he added.