COVID-19
Helping in many ways
The COVID-19 pandemic has turned our world upside down. To face this global crisis scientific research and innovation have never been more important to face this global crisis. As a research institute with about 25 years of experience in the life sciences, VIB is fully committed to help slow down the spread of the novel coronavirus and mitigate its effects. VIB scientists work tirelessly, together with (inter)national partners, leveraging our experience, expertise, and infrastructure in the fight against COVID-19.
August 2021
- ExeVir's COVID-19 antibody was shown to also neutralize the gamma and delta variants of SARS-CoV-2.
- Start clinical trial phase Ia and phase 1b/2 with hospitalized COVID-19 patients
- Scientists Adrian Liston en Sonia Agüera-Gonzalez made another wonderful immunology children’s book: "Maya's marvelous Medicine". This story tells your kids all about how vaccines work.
May 2021
- VIB launches, together with VRT News, imec, the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Health House, and Brightlab, an EDUBOX on Pandemics. This EDUBOX gives youngsters background info on the pandemic in an attractive interactive way.
March 2021
- Rheumatism medication has been found not to work in corona patients
- ExeVir raises 42 million euros, acquiring financial strength to start clinical trials with the COVID-19 antibodies
- COVID-19 antibodies from VIB are also effective against new virus variants
- VIB launches information campaign (in Dutch) on vaccines: vaccinverklaard.be
February 2021
- Cancer drug Leukine® proves effective in hospitalized COVID-19 patients
January 2021
- Immune response in lungs of critically ill COVID-19 patients mapped by Leuven team
December 2020
- Llama Winter retires. Artist Koen Vanmechelen takes care of her in his park Labiomista.
November 2020
- ExeVir bolsters board with experienced hands in infectious diseases and pharmaceutical development
September 2020
- MolecularCloud Distinguished Research Award 2020 for VIB research on COVID-19 antibodies
August 2020
- Fast DNA sequencing technology from Oxford Nanopore Technology, based on VIB research, used worldwide in COVID-19 tests
July 2020
- Launch of ExeVir Bio, VIB spin-off for the development of the COVID-19 antibodies
May 2020
- Identification of a new type of immune cell with a role in respiratory infections by VIB research team
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Automated testing platforms take over manual work from VIB volunteer teams
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Scientific publication on the effect of SARS-Cov-1 antibodies. Press coverage of the llama antibodies makes Llama Winter an international celebrity
April 2020
- Children's book about COVID-19 and our immune system available as a free e-book
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First VIB volunteer team starts COVID-19 testing
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Rapid developmental approval for the COVID-19 antibody by the Belgian and German authorities
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Belgian study into the use of rheumatism medication in the fight against COVID-19 infection
March 2020
- Additional funding to link clinical studies at partner hospitals with research into the underlying mechanisms of the disease. This runs through the VIB Grand Challenges program, with the support of the Flemish government:
- Insight into different stages of infection through the prospective observational study CONTAGIOUS
- Testing whether Leukine® can improve lung function in critically ill patients (SARPAC study)
- Testing rheumatism medication for possible anti-inflammatory effect (IL6 / ILR6)
- VIB teams, together with UZ Gent, are testing the potential of established drugs to relieve severe COVID-19 infection.
- VIB identifies volunteers and infrastructure to contribute to the expansion of national COVID-19 testing capacity.
- Validation of the COVID-19 antibody in an animal model by researchers at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology and KU Leuven
February 2020
- First COVID-19 case discovered in Belgium
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SARS-CoV-1 antibody that VIB researchers are working on binds to the new virus, SARS-CoV-2. This is research at the VIB-UGent Center for Medical Biotechnology
January 2020
- Outbreak of new coronavirus in China
