Viroceuticals

One I3V research theme involves the use of viruses to harness the power of the human immune system to develop new preventative and therapeutic treatments known as viroceuticals, which include vaccines, antiviral drugs and cancer-fighting oncolytic viruses. I3V researchers include experts in genomics who are discovering new aspects of interactions between the host immune system and our commensal viruses (‘the virome’) and how host and virus genetics affect treatment responses (e.g. correlates of Hepatitis C cure). I3V researchers are leveraging the revolutions in DNA synthesis and genome analysis to use a new genetic approach called “synthetic virology” to develop new viral vaccine platforms for unmet needs in vaccinology. By taking a leadership role in founding the new Canadian Society for Virology, and hosting a major virology symposium in 2018, Dalhousie I3V researchers are cementing an international leadership position in virology research.