The Virusbank Platform maintains a centralized, ISO‑compliant biocontainment repository of high‑risk viral strains at KU Leuven and provides automated, high‑throughput virus engineering and standardized infection assay kits.
Funding
Funding not disclosed
Founders
Product
Problem
Research on high‑risk epidemic and pandemic viruses is limited by fragmented collections, scarce high‑containment infrastructure, and slow access to standardized viral stocks, hindering rapid development of antivirals and vaccines.
Solution
The VirusBank Platform consolidates a curated repository of viruses of high epidemic or pandemic concern within a secure, high‑containment facility at KU Leuven. It offers automated, high‑throughput virus manipulation using the Caps‑It system, enabling rapid generation of viral stocks and infection assays. The platform provides standardized viral reagents, assay kits, and data services to academic, pharmaceutical, and public‑health partners, accelerating pre‑clinical discovery of prophylactic and therapeutic candidates. By coordinating with Belgian federal health agencies and international partners, the platform ensures that research capacity is maximized and aligned with national pandemic‑preparedness objectives.
Target Audience
Primary customers are academic virology labs, pharmaceutical and biotech companies developing antivirals or vaccines, and national health agencies requiring access to standardized high‑risk viral reagents.
Features
- Centralized, ISO‑compliant biocontainment repository of high‑risk viral strains with secure storage and controlled access
- Automated high‑throughput virus engineering and propagation (Caps‑It) for rapid production of recombinant viruses and assay panels
- Comprehensive library of validated infection assays and antiviral screening workflows
- Dedicated data management and sharing infrastructure, including secure cloud storage and standardized metadata
- Collaborative partnership framework with health agencies, biotech firms, and academic institutions to align research priorities
- On‑site expertise in biorisk management, biosafety training, and ISO 35001:2019 compliance