Six COVID-19 drug leads identified

April 2020

A team of international researchers, including some from UQ, has tested over 10,000 approved drugs, drug candidates in clinical trials and other compounds as potential leads for fighting COVID-19. The research involved a program of high-throughput drug screening, both in laboratories and using computer software to predict how different drugs bind to the virus. The main COVID-19 virus enzyme called main protease or Mpro, was targeted as it plays a pivotal role in viral replication and transcription – but as humans don’t carry this enzyme, drugs that target Mpro are likely to have low toxicity for people. Researchers identified six drugs that appear to effectively inhibit the enzyme, with one drug of particular interest. The results of the study have been published in Nature for researchers across the world.

Queensland science capability directory

The Queensland science capability directory provides information on the State’s key research capabilities.

Artists in Residence Science Program

The Artist in Residence Science program supports creative collaborative residencies between professional artists and creative practitioners with scientists and the diverse science networks, researchers, data and infrastructure.

Tenders for the 2019 Artist in Residence Science Mural Project are now closed.

About the exhibition

The 2012–2018 Art meets Science Exhibitions provided an opportunity for artists from across South East Queensland to join the artists participating in the Artist in Residence Science program in showcasing their recent artworks that demonstrate a strong art-science connection. Find out more about the artists and artworks featured in these exhibitions in the 2015-2018 Art meets Science exhibition catalogues.