Recent News

Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) captured in Peru having samples collected for virus testing as part of a long-term study. Credit: Laura Bergner
Common vampire bat (Desmodus rotundus) captured in Peru having samples collected for virus testing as part of a long-term study. Credit: Laura Bergner

Looking for a zoonotic needles in a viral haystack

Thu, 06 May 2021 14:25:00 BST

CVR & IBAHCM team develops and validates machine learning models that rank viruses by their ability to infect humans (“zoonotic potential”) using only their genome sequence.

Picutres of Elihu Aranday-Cortes
Picutres of Elihu Aranday-Cortes

Veterinary science, viruses and Contagious Thinking

Sun, 11 Apr 2021 00:06:00 BST

Post doctoral researcher and champion of the centre’s blog, Dr. Elihu Aranday-Cortes, tells us about his interests across a range of disciplines and how he has brought them together in his work at the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research.

Image of Alfredo Castello holding a pipette (left) diagram of the different protein-RNA interactomes in virus-free and virus infection situations (right)
Image of Alfredo Castello holding a pipette (left) diagram of the different protein-RNA interactomes in virus-free and virus infection situations (right)

RNA and viruses have always been my research landmarks

Wed, 31 Mar 2021 00:00:00 BST

Dr. Alfredo Castello was born in Madrid, Spain, and completed his bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences and PhD in Madrid. He then moved on to postdoc at EMBL, Heidelberg before becoming an MRC Career Development Awardee at the Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford and finally coming to the CVR.

Image of multiple ticks inside a test tube
Image of multiple ticks inside a test tube

What makes the Brennan Lab tick?

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

The CVR team investigating what makes viruses tick have recently been awarded an MRC Public Engagement Seed Fund to pilot a project engaging and involving communities around the University of Glasgow in their tick-borne virus research. To close Tick Bite Prevention Week 2021, we introduce this project and the team behind it.

Images of the CVR staff involved in COG-UK. Each image is framed in the shape of a COG-UK cog.
Images of the CVR staff involved in COG-UK. Each image is framed in the shape of a COG-UK cog.

COG-UK One Year On

Thu, 25 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

One year on, we are joining our COG-UK partners in reflecting on what we have achieved together and recognising the contributions CVR is making to the consortium.

COVID-19 virus particles

MVLS Release

Women under 50 had worse long-term outcomes after hospitalisation with COVID-19

Women under 50 and people who experienced severe disease had worse long-term outcomes following hospitalisation with COVID-19.

Diagram representing the interaction between SARS-CoV-2, Rhinovirus and epithelial cells.

MVLS Release

Infection with the common cold might provide some level of protection against COVID-19

The common cold virus could offer some level of protection against COVID-19 infection, according to a new study.

COVID-19 virus particles

MVLS Release

The evolution of SARS-CoV-2 from bats to humans shows a slow rate of change

Scientists looking at the evolution of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, have found that since December 2019 there has been very little ‘important’ genetic change observed in the hundreds of thousands of sequenced virus genomes.

Image from John's CVR Insight - Headhot (left) then selfie of the McLauchlan group (right)
Image from John's CVR Insight - Headhot (left) then selfie of the McLauchlan group (right)

The making of John McLauchlan, Professor of Viral Hepatitis

Thu, 11 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Born and raised in Glasgow, Prof John McLauchlan is what you would call a ‘local lad’. Now, John is associate director of the CVR, co-lead of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Research UK and director of the HCV Research UK biorepository. Here, we asked John about what got him into research at the CVR.

Image from Angela's CVR Insight - Angela next to the REBL sign (left) and in full CL3 gear (right)
Image from Angela's CVR Insight - Angela next to the REBL sign (left) and in full CL3 gear (right)

Managing the CVR’s Biosafety Lab: Angela Elliott

Wed, 10 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

We talked to Angela Elliott, manager of the Containment Level 3 (CL3) Richard Elliott Biosafety Laboratories (REBL). She explains how she, as someone who describes herself as more creative than scientific, found her place in virology research at the CVR.

Image of Colin Loney using the widefield light microscope
Image of Colin Loney using the widefield light microscope

Managing the CVR’s Imaging Facilities: Colin Loney

Tue, 09 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Colin Loney, Imaging Manager at the CVR, describes his journey from budding mathematician to technician to manager of a core facility in the centre.

Logo reads
Logo reads

International HPV Awareness Day #AskAboutHPV

Thu, 04 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

We talked to CVR Professor and key member of the Scottish HPV Investigators’ Network (SHINe) Sheila Graham to learn about her research and #AskAboutHPV, and postdoctoral researcher Dr. Ilaria Epifano from the Graham group tells us about her work.

The logo for the MAGNETIC network

MVLS Release

UofG establishes interdisciplinary network to further links with Malawi

The University of Glasgow is furthering its long-term commitment to working with organisations in Malawi with the establishment of an interdisciplinary collaboration network, bringing together colleges from across the University.

Sarah McDonald in the lab handling samples, black and white image
Sarah McDonald in the lab handling samples, black and white image

From HCV to ISARIC 4C: Working at the CVR biobank

Tue, 02 Mar 2021 00:00:00 GMT

Dumfries-born Biobank manager Dr. Sarah McDonald OBE developed an interest in “bench to bedside” research early in her undergraduate degree. Following a PhD in Reproductive Biology at the University of Edinburgh and 4 years as a research technician/lab manager in reproductive biology, Sarah joined the CVR. We reflect on how her role has evolved over time and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A diagram of the coronavirus toolkit, including reverse genetics plasmids, virus isolates and antibodies

MVLS Release

New Coronavirus Toolkit allows for open access of antibodies and genetic tools to further global research into COVID-19

An international consortium, led by scientists in Scotland, have devised a Coronavirus Toolkit which gives researchers from across the world open access to materials, including antibodies and genetic tools, which can be easily and immediately ordered via an online portal – to further research into COVID-19.