The research group of Prof. Dr. Stephanie Kath-Schorr at the University of Cologne, together with collaborating partners from Düsseldorf and Hamburg, has received funding from the Volkswagen Foundation within the initiative “Innovative Approaches in Antiviral Drug Development.” The project aims to develop novel antiviral agents targeting viral infections for which effective treatment options are currently limited. The research focuses on the use of DNAzymes, synthetic molecules designed to specifically recognize and cleave viral RNA. By advancing this technology, the team aims to establish new therapeutic approaches against highly pathogenic RNA viruses, including Lassa virus and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus. The project contributes to the development of next-generation antiviral therapies and addresses the urgent need for innovative strategies to combat emerging and underexplored viral diseases.
