The Independent : declared in Zika virus project hailed by Theresa May on Scottish visit was funded by EU scheme which could be lost after Brexit

A research project hailed by Theresa May to protect people from "the awful Zika virus" was funded under an EU scheme likely to be lost after Brexit. No less than £10m has been provided by the EU's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program – its key funding stream for ground breaking medical research. Ministers have pledged to underwrite existing Horizon 2020 projects to the end of the current spending round in 2020. The EU funding is confirmed in a press release, last October, announcing how the Glasgow scientists had "united with 25 research organizations to fight Zika Virus and build long-term outbreak response capacity in Latin America". However, future involvement would have to be renegotiated as part of any Brexit deal, creating huge uncertainty for scientists.

Zika virus protein mapped to speed search for cure

The structure of the Zika virus protein NS5, which is key to the reproduction and spread of the virus. Explore further: Zika virus: Five things to knowMore information: Baoyu Zhao et al, Structure and function of the Zika virus full-length NS5 protein, Nature Communications (2017). The protein NS5 is shown in red within the larger area of the Zika virus. "Mapping this protein provides us the ability to reproduce a key part of the Zika virus in a lab," Kao said. Drugs to target the Zika virus will almost certainly involve this protein."





collected by :Lucy William
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