Manon Laporte
Can you share a little about yourself and your research?
I am a Research manager at the Rega Institute for Medical Research (KU Leuven) and work in the Virology, Antiviral Drug & Vaccine Research Group, headed by Johan Neyts.
My research focus is on antiviral drug discovery. I guide several phenotypic antiviral screening projects where we use high-throughput screening of small molecules to identify novel druggable targets in the replication cycle of viruses with epidemic and or pandemic potential. Using this strategy we identified for example that the SARS-CoV-2 Membrane (M) protein is an excellent antiviral target and that replication of the virus can be blocked by a small molecule M inhibitor by blocking virus assembly (Laporte et al. Nature 2025). I also develop and implement novel and state of the art high-throughput in vitro antiviral and mode of action assays. We developed for example a novel high-throughput antiviral screening assay based on cell-cell fusion for paramyxoviruses (Vandemaele et al. Antiviral Res. 2025).
How does your research fit into the bigger picture of Durable?
My phenotypic antiviral drug discovery work contributes to DURABLE by helping uncover new antiviral targets, identify potentially novel antiviral molecules, and deepen our understanding of virus replication mechanisms. By combining mechanistic insight with antiviral discovery, I strengthen DURABLE’s broader mission to anticipate, assess, and respond to future viral threats.
What motivates you to be part of Durable?
Pandemic preparedness is a collective responsibility. No single lab, institute, or country can generate the full picture needed to anticipate and mitigate emerging threats. DURABLE brings together a European network of experts who complement each other’s strengths.
Being part of this consortium allows me to contribute my expertise while learning from others who approach the same challenge from different angles.
What do you expect to accomplish in the upcoming years within your own institute and by being connected to Durable?
I aim to continue developing robust experimental models, dissecting viral replication mechanisms, and identifying promising antiviral candidates. Until today, effective antiviral therapies for many viruses (e.g., paramyxo-, pneumo-, bunya-, flavi-, toga-, filo-, enteroviruses) with epidemic and pandemic potential are unfortunately still lacking. Broad(er)-acting antiviral drugs, active against entire genera or families of viruses, should be developed and stockpiled in epidemic/pandemic peacetime. They can be used to counter outbreaks as soon as the new virus has been identified and will also remain important pharmacological tools after the introduction of vaccines and monoclonal antibodies.
What do you expect from Durable in the upcoming near future?
I see DURABLE as a chance to help shape a sustainable European preparedness ecosystem, one that strengthens our ability to detect, understand, and counteract emerging viral threats before they escalate.
