Bart Haagmans | Virologist
Erasmus Medical Center

My research line focusses on the pathogenesis of viral infections and especially those viruses that emerge through zoonotic transmission. This brings together work performed earlier at the Veterinary faculty in Utrecht and more recent work on human viruses in Rotterdam.  We have characterised the genome of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) coronavirus, identified the receptor used by this virus and contributed to the identification of the dromedary camel as the reservoir species. We have tested a vaccine candidate that reduces the transmission of MERS-CoV by vaccinating dromedary camels and a MVA vectored vaccine in human pahse1a/1b trials. These studies led to a more detailed understanding of the biology of this emerging virus and to novel intervention strategies to contain the outbreaks. The COVID-19 pandemic initiated a range of studies that led to a more detailed understanding of the biology of this emerging virus and intervention strategies to contain the outbreak. In collaboration with international teams, the novel coronavirus was classified as SARS-CoV-2, diagnostic assays were developed and validated while animal and in vitro organoid models were set up to further understand  pathogenesis and test (antibody based) intervention strategies. I am a member of the Coronavirus study group of the ICTV, received the lifetime achievement award from ECMIDD, acted as (co)-coordinator of IMI-ZAPI and several Dutch grants, and Co-PI on several other EU grants as well as a CEPI funded MERS vaccine project. I am an expert consultant of WHO, FAO, WOAH, with a focus on surveillance and characterization of novel coronavirus variants.