Together with an international team of researchers, scientist led by Florian I. Schmidt and Paul-Albert König have found and further developed novel antibody fragments against the SARS coronavirus-2. These "nanobodies" are much smaller than classical antibodies. They therefore penetrate the tissue better and can be produced in larger quantities more easily. The scientists at Bonn University Hospital have also combined the nanobodies into particularly effective molecules that simultaneously attack different points of attack of the virus. The approach could prevent the pathogen from evading the active agent through mutations. The study appeared earlier this year in the journal Science (more: https://www.uni-bonn.de/en/news/008-2021).
The award is based on a joint nomination by the ImmunoSensation2 Cluster of Excellence and the Transdisciplinary Research Area "Life and Health" at the University of Bonn. Schmidt is a member of both of these research networks. The researcher is one of ten winners in the Life Sciences category. "The award increases the visibility of our research in the public eye," says the scientist. The foundation plans to announce on September 15 whether he will still win the title "Breakthrough of the Year 2021 in Life Sciences." That's when winner will have the opportunity to present their research to numerous guests at the Falling Walls Science Summit on November 9. In recent months, Schmidt has continued to advance his research: "We can show the efficacy of the nanobodies against all relevant new variants of the coronavirus as well as in animals models," he says.
The Falling Walls Foundation
A nonprofit organization based in Berlin, the Falling Walls Foundation is dedicated to bringing together those who set out to break down the next walls in science and society. Beginning with the first conference to mark the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 2009, Falling Walls has evolved into an ever-growing network of the most ambitious and forward-thinking minds from around the world. The initiative aims to address the greatest challenges facing this planet. It stands for freedom of thought and scientific research and for making groundbreaking ideas accessible to society. More https://falling-walls.com
