The Scientific Centre of Monaco has been awarded a spot on the prestigious Global Virus Network, a conglomerate of experts from 37 countries who work with every class of virus that causes human disease.

Representing 69 Centres of Excellence and 11 Affiliates, the Global Virus Network was founded in 2011 as a defense against viral diseases. Their work is dedicated to “understanding, preventing and eradicating viral disease threats to mankind” as well as to learn more about how viruses make people sick and to use that knowledge to develop drugs and vaccines against them.

Now, the Scientific Centre of Monaco (CSM) is joining them as their newest affiliate.

“Just last year, we co-hosted a significant international meeting with Monaco to help curb the Covid-19 pandemic, particularly in developing nations, and focus on establishing innovative platforms for the diagnostics of key human pathogens and drive innovative public health strategies to monitor the efficacy of vaccines against Covid,” said Christian Bréchot, President of the GVN. “I look forward to working with the Scientific Centre of Monaco and its partners in the Principality of Monaco to build global collaboration efforts to identify cutting-edge technologies, integrate the impact of environmental changes on biodiversity and nutrition and prepare for future pandemics.”

CSM is more broadly known for their work in marine and polar biology research but has increasingly added human research in the last decade to their studies. Since 2013, the Department of Medical Biology has been advancing research programmes such as the mechanisms of innate immunity involved in the defence against infections affecting invertebrates and humans, cell metabolism and abnormal proliferation of tumour cells.  The department also develops translation studies designed to transmit laboratory data as quickly as possible to patients suffering from cancer or muscular pathologies. The team has been dedicated to the management and financing of clinical research programmes that contribute to medicine, through the development of new therapeutic approaches.

“CSM looks forward to the exchange and synergy of scientific research projects with teams from the GVN,” said Dr Thomas Althaus, Public Health Expert at CSM.  “While Monaco has its own national agenda, we aim to meet worldwide challenges like the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We see terrific potential for collaborations with GVN to improve diagnosis, treatment, prevention, and surveillance of public health global threats.”