APPEAL outcomes presented at the Workshop “Biology of RNA Viruses” in Munich
APPEAL project outcomes were presented at the workshop “Biology of RNA Viruses”, held from 5–7 August 2026 at LMU Munich, Germany. The event was supported by the LMU-Todai Cooperation in the Sciences, a strategic partnership between LMU Munich and the University of Tokyo that supports scientific exchange, including workshops and conferences.
The APPEAL-related presentation was given by Tuna Toptan from the Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich. The talk presented research on:
“β-catenin/CBP inhibitor PRI-724 acts as a broad-spectrum host-directed antiviral by altering cellular cholesterol homeostasis”
The work was authored by Maximilian A. Kelch, Matteo Rizzato, Alicia Hiemisch, Piotr Wajda, Nina Beil, Emma Torbica, Denisa Bojkova, Holger Erfle, Rainer König and Tuna Toptan, with contributions from Frankfurt University Hospital / Goethe University Frankfurt, the Technical University of Munich, Jena University Hospital, and Heidelberg University.
The presentation highlighted APPEAL’s ongoing research into host-directed antiviral strategies and the identification of compounds with potential broad-spectrum antiviral activity. By focusing on cellular pathways relevant for viral infection, this work contributes to APPEAL’s overall aim of advancing innovative approaches for antiviral drug discovery and pandemic preparedness.
The workshop provided an excellent opportunity to share APPEAL results with the RNA virus research community and to strengthen scientific exchange between leading European and international research groups.
The APPEAL-related presentation was given by Tuna Toptan from the Institute of Virology, Technical University of Munich. The talk presented research on:
“β-catenin/CBP inhibitor PRI-724 acts as a broad-spectrum host-directed antiviral by altering cellular cholesterol homeostasis”
The work was authored by Maximilian A. Kelch, Matteo Rizzato, Alicia Hiemisch, Piotr Wajda, Nina Beil, Emma Torbica, Denisa Bojkova, Holger Erfle, Rainer König and Tuna Toptan, with contributions from Frankfurt University Hospital / Goethe University Frankfurt, the Technical University of Munich, Jena University Hospital, and Heidelberg University.
The presentation highlighted APPEAL’s ongoing research into host-directed antiviral strategies and the identification of compounds with potential broad-spectrum antiviral activity. By focusing on cellular pathways relevant for viral infection, this work contributes to APPEAL’s overall aim of advancing innovative approaches for antiviral drug discovery and pandemic preparedness.
The workshop provided an excellent opportunity to share APPEAL results with the RNA virus research community and to strengthen scientific exchange between leading European and international research groups.