About Dr. M. (Mathilde) Richard
Introduction
Background
Mathilde Richard is a biochemist engineer and molecular virologist. She completed her PhD in 2010 in France under the supervision of Prof. Bruno Lina studying the resistance of influenza A viruses to neuraminidase inhibitors. She then integrated the Viroscience Department for her post-doctoral studies, which have focused on the pathogenesis, virulence and transmissibility of influenza A viruses, with special emphasis on genetic and phenotypic viral factors involved in the emergence of new pandemics. Since 2018, she is a principal investigator at the Viroscience Department.
Current research lines and team
The research of her team focusses on the understanding of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIV) genesis, emergence, and pathogenesis and the development of new vaccination strategies to cope with antigenic diversity in the context of pandemic preparedness.
Current members
Nicolas Urdaneta Piragauta | PhD Student | 2025 - present
Roy Hutchinson | PhD Student | 2024 - present
Monique Spronken | PhD Student | 2023 - present
Willemijn Rijnink | PhD student | 2021 - present
Angeliki Anna Beka | Post-Doc | 2024 - present
Ecco Staller| Post-Doc | 2025 – present
Daryl Geers | Post-Doc | 2025 – present
Femke Volker | Technician | 1 FTE
Theo Bestebroer | Technician | 0.5 FTE
Mark Pronk | Technician | 0.5 FTE
Former members
Post-Docs | Mathis Funk
PhD Students | Anja de Bruin, Victor Lorente Leal, Adinda Kok
MSc Students | Rik Ruijten, Evelin Valjaots, Lieke de Jong, Raissa Davis, Geunho Choi, Anne Reiners
BSc Students | Sivana Baptista Varela, Lars van den Biggelaar, Rik Bouwels, Romy van Acker, Jocynthe Buzink
Technicians | Rachel Scheur, Djenolan van Mourik, Stefan van der Vliet
Field(s) of expertise
Education and career
Work appointments
2022-present: Associate Professor | Work group leader | Department of Viroscience | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands
2018-2022: Assistant Professor | Work group leader | Department of Viroscience | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands
2014-2018: Researcher | Department of Viroscience | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands
2011-2014: Post-Doctoral Researcher | Department of Viroscience | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands
Education
2007-2010: PhD in Virology (summa cum laude) | University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 (UCBL1) | France
2007: Master of Science (cum laude) | Microbial Ecology | UCBL 1 | France
2002-2007: Master of Engineering | Biochemistry and Biotechnologies | National Institute of Applied Science, Lyon | France
2005-2006: Visiting research student | Concordia University, Montreal | Canada
Publications
Contributions to science
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) emergence and host species-specific pathogenesis
HPAIV emerge in poultry from low pathogenic variants. Although insertion of a furin-cleavable multibasic cleavage site (MBCS) in the hemagglutinin gene was identified decades ago as the genetic basis HPAIV emergence, the mechanisms underlying said insertion have remained unknown. Dr. Richard’s team has identified influenza virus polymerase trapping by transient RNA structures as mechanism for furin cleavage site acquisition in H5 influenza viruses and has developed accurate and sensitive assays to detect insertions and deletions in error-prone purine sequences. Dr. Richard’s team has also shown that the restriction of HPAIV emergence to poultry can be the result of different intra-host selection drivers between gallinaceous species and other bird species. Dr. Richard’s team has also recently shown that recombination of H7 HAs with foreign RNAs occurs at particular hotspots and hypothesized that RNA recombination of H7 HAs with foreign RNA is facilitated or mediated by snoRNAs.
- Funk M, Spronken MI, Hutchinson RM, Arragain B, Juyoux P, Bestebroer TM, de Bruin AC, Gultyaev AP, Fouchier RAM, Cusack S, te Velthuis AJW, Richard M. Polymerase trapping as the mechanism of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus genesis. Science. 2026 Mar 12;391(6790):eadr6632.
- Spronken MI, Funk M, Gultyaev AP, de Bruin ACM, Fouchier R, Richard M. Nucleotide sequence as key determinant driving insertions at influenza A virus hemagglutinin cleavage sites. NPJ Viruses. 2024 May 13;2(1-11).
- de Bruin ACM, Spronken MI, Kok A, Rosu ME, de Meulder D, van Nieuwkoop S, Lexmond P, Funk M, Leijten LM, Bestebroer TM, Herfst S, van Riel D, Fouchier RAM, Richard M. Species-specific emergence of H7 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus is driven by intrahost selection differences between chickens and ducks. PLoS Pathogens. 2024 Feb 26;20(2):e1011942.
- Gultyaev AP, Spronken MI, Funk M, Fouchier RAM, Richard M. Insertions of codons encoding basic amino acids in H7 hemagglutinins of influenza viruses occur by recombination with RNA at hotspots near snoRNA binding sites. RNA. 2021 Feb;27(2):123-132.
Antigenic evolution of avian influenza viruses and vaccine design
Avian influenza viruses regularly cause zoonoses and are therefore a threat for new pandemics. Avian influenza viruses may evolve antigenically upon circulation in reservoir or spill-over hosts, which poses challenges for vaccine design and pandemic preparedness. To better understand avian influenza virus evolution, Dr. Richard’s team uses antigenic cartography to quantify and visualize antigenic evolution of characterized the antigenic evolution of the two main antigens of the virus, the hemagglutinin and the neuraminidase. This work led to the identification of the molecular basis of antigenic evolution of avian influenza virus hemagglutinins and paved the way to develop broadly reactive vaccines against H5 avian influenza viruses that have caused recent zoonoses. These broadly reactive vaccines are based on the design of antigenically central hemagglutinin antigens, which will be evaluated this year as mRNA vaccines in collaboration with the Duke Human Vaccine Institute in an NIH-sponsored clinical trial. In addition, Dr. Richard’s team, in collaboration with that of Dr. de Vries, an immune virologist at the ErasmusMC, investigated baseline immunity against A(H5) HPAIVs in a cohort of ErasmusMC health care workers, to support assessment of their pandemic potential. They identified detectable levels of cross-reactivity resulting from prior exposure to seasonal influenza viruses, which may mitigate disease severity upon A(H5) HPAIV infection.
- Power MA*, Rijnink WF*, Soochit W, Gommers L, van der Linden A, Chandler F, Volker F, Bestebroer TM, Verstrepen BE, Grifoni A, Tan NH, Bogers S, van Nierop GP, Prof Alessandro Sette A, Koopmans MPG, GeurtsvanKessel CA, Sikkema RS, Richard M#, de Vries RD#. Characterization of immune responses targeting highly pathogenic avian influenza A(H5) viruses: an observational cross-sectional analysis in Dutch healthcare workers. The Lancet Microbe, in press. *,# equal contribution.
- Liedes O, Reinholm A, Ekstr.m N, Haveri A, Solastie A, Vara S, Rijnink WF, Bestebroer TM, Richard M, de Vries RD, Jalkanen P, Lindh E, Ikonen N, Grifoni A, Sette A, Laaksonen T, Holopainen R, Kakkola L, Lappalainen M, Syrj.nen RK, Kolehmainen P, Julkunen I, Nohynek H, Melin M. Influenza A(H5N8) vaccine induces humoral and cell-mediated immunity against highly pathogenic avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses in at-risk individuals. Nature Microbiology. 2026 Jan;11(1):155-168.
- Kok A, Wilks SH, Tureli S, James SL, Bestebroer TM, Burke DF, Funk M, van der Vliet S, Spronken MI, Rijnink WF, Pattinson DJ, de Meulder D, Rosu ME, Lexmond P, van den Brand JMA, Herfst S, Smith DJ, Fouchier RAM, Richard M. A vaccine central in A(H5) influenza antigenic space confers broad immunity. Nature. 2025 Nov;647(8091):1005-1013.
- Kok A, Scheuer R, Bestebroer TM, Burke DF, Wilks SH, Spronken MI, de Meulder D, Lexmond P, Pronk M, Smith DJ, Herfst S, Fouchier RAM, Richard M. Characterization of A/H7 influenza virus global antigenic diversity and key determinants in the hemagglutinin globular head mediating A/H7N9 antigenic evolution. mBio. 2023 Aug 11:e0048823.
- Kok A, Fouchier RAM, Richard M. Cross-Reactivity conferred by homologous and heterologous prime-boost A/H5 influenza vaccination strategies in Humans: a literature review. Vaccines. 2021 Dec 10;9(12):1465.
Risk assessment of zoonotic respiratory viruses and genetic and phenotypic requirements of pandemic potential.
In 2013, the H7N9 virus emerged in China, causing human cases of infection. Early in the outbreak, it was critical to understand the potential for this virus to transmit via the airborne route, as this is the major route of influenza virus transmission between humans. Dr. Richard demonstrated that the zoonotic H7N9 virus was transmissible via the airborne route, highlighting this virus as a pandemic threat. To really understand the potential impact of H7N9 viruses on public health, she subsequently investigated markers that influence phenotypes important for airborne transmission. Dr. Richard has also characterized several other emerging zoonotic influenza viruses to assess whether these would represent a pandemic risk for the human population. This line of work not only provided risk assessment of zoonotic influenza viruses, but also supported fundamental understanding of the genetic and phenotypic requirements for zoonotic influenza viruses to become pandemic. When SARS-CoV-2 sparked the current pandemic of COVID-19 in spring 2020, Dr. Richard used her expertise on transmission of influenza viruses to understand the modes of transmission of this newly emerging virus. This work has made a tremendous impact on the coronavirus field, as this is one of the first studies demonstrating that SARS-CoV-2 is transmissible between ferrets not only via contact, but also via respiratory droplets and/or aerosols.
- Kutter JS, de Meulder D, Bestebroer TM, Lexmond P, Mulders A, Richard M, Fouchier RAM, Herfst S. SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 are transmitted through the air between ferrets over more than one meter distance. Nature Communications. 2021 Mar 12;12(1):1653. PMID: 33712573.
- Richard M, Kok A, de Meulder D, Besterbroer TM, Lamers MM, Okba NMA, Fentener van Vlissingen M, Rockx B, Haagmans BL, Koopmans MPG, Fouchier RAM, Herfst S. SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted via contact and via the air between ferrets. Nature Communications. 2020 Jul 8;11(1):3496.
- Herfst S, Mok CKP, van den Brand JMA, van der Vliet S, Rosu ME, Spronken MI, Yang Z, de Meulder D, Lexmond P, Bestebroer TM, Peiris JSM, Fouchier RAM, Richard M. Human Clade 2.3.4.4 A/H5N6 Influenza Virus Lacks Mammalian Adaptation Markers and Does Not Transmit via the Airborne Route between Ferrets. mSphere. 2018 Jan 3;3.
- Richard M, Herfst S, van den Brand JMA, de Meulder D, Lexmond P, Bestebroer TM, Fouchier RAM. Mutations Driving Airborne Transmission of A/H5N1 Virus in Mammals Cause Substantial Attenuation in Chickens only when combined. Scientific Reports. 2017 Aug 3;7(1):7187. Corresponding author.
- Richard M*, Schrauwen EJ*, Burke DF, Rimmelzwaan GF, Herfst S, Fouchier RA. Amino acid substitutions that affect receptor binding and stability of the hemagglutinin of influenza A/H7N9 virus. Journal of Virology. 2016 Jan 20;90(7):3794-9. Corresponding author.
- Richard M, Herfst S, van den Brand JM, Lexmond P, Bestebroer TM, Rimmelzwaan GF, Koopmans M, Kuiken T, Fouchier RA. Low Virulence and Lack of Airborne Transmission of the Dutch Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza Virus H5N8 in Ferrets. PLoS One. 2015 Jun 19;10(6):e0129827. Corresponding author.
- Richard M and Fouchier RA. H10N8 and H6N1 Maintain Avian Receptor Binding. Cell Host & Microbe. 2015. Mar 11;17(3):292-4.
- Richard M*, Schrauwen EJ*, de Graaf M, Bestebroer TM, Spronken MI, van Boheemen S, de Meulder D, Lexmond P, Linster M, Herfst S, Smith DJ, van den Brand JM, Burke DF, Kuiken T, Rimmelzwaan GF, Osterhaus AD, Fouchier RA. Limited airborne transmission of H7N9 influenza A virus between ferrets. Nature. 2013 Sep 26;501(7468):560-3. (*equal contribution).
Fundamental understanding of influenza virus transmission and reassortment
Dr. Richard has worked in collaboration with Dr. Sander Herfst (Viroscience Department, ErasmusMC, with Dr. Lowen (Emory University, US), who studies reassortment of influenza viruses using genetically tagged viruses. They thought of novel uses for these tagged viruses: understanding how viral tropism would restrict reassortment and understanding where in the respiratory tract influenza viruses are generated for transmission. Together, they showed that replication in two different anatomical sites in the respiratory tract restricts reassortment of influenza viruses. They also showed that influenza viruses are expelled from the upper respiratory tract for onwards transmission and highlight the nasal cavity as the source of transmissible viruses.
- Richard M, van den Brand JMA, Bestebroer TM, Lexmond P, de Meulder D, Fouchier RAM, Lowen AC, Herfst S. Influenza A viruses are transmitted via the air from the nasal respiratory epithelium of ferrets. Nature Communications. 2020 Feb 7;11(1):766.
- Richard M, Herfst S, Tao H, Jacobs NT, Lowen AC. Influenza A virus reassortment is limited by anatomical compartmentalization following co-infection via distinct routes. Journal of Virology. 2018 Mar;92-5.
For a complete list of publications, see:
Link to web of science: https://www.webofscience.com/wos/author/record/F-5461-2017
Link to ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0240-9312
Link to NCBI: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/1d1WzsxHfqgkf/bibliography/public/
Link to google scholar: https://scholar.google.nl/citations?user=0nyj4HsAAAAJ&hl=nl
Teaching activities
Managing, development & organization
2021 - present: Management team Infection and Immunity (I&I) Master | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands
2021 - present: Organizer of a two-yearly Virology Course for PhD-students organizer | 1,5 ECTS | ~70 participants
2015 - 2018: Organizer of the Postgraduate School Molecular Medicine Course | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands
Lecturing
2026: Master Nanobiology / Life Science & Technology | Molecular Virology & Immunology | Invited lecture | TU Delft | the Netherlands
2025 - present: Master Infection&Immunity |Signaling & Techniques course | Yearly invited lecture | Utrecht University | the Netherlands
2023/2025: Stichting Vaccinology Masterclass
2022: EpiViral Summer School | Invited lecture | Aveiro | Portugal
2022 - present: Master Biology | Frontiers in Biology | Yearly invited lecture | Wageningen University | the Netherlands
2021 - present: Master Infectiology | Advances in Virology | Yearly invited lecture | University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 | France
2018 - present: Biomedical research in Practice (BRiP) | Medicine Bachelor Minor | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands
2016 - present: Master programme Infection and Immunity (I&I) | Two-yearly lectures | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands.
2015 - 2018: Postgraduate School Molecular Medicine Course | Yearly lecture | Erasmus MC, Rotterdam | the Netherlands
2015 - 2017: Micro & Immunobiology Bachelor | Yearly invited lecture | Erasmus University College, Rotterdam | the Netherland
2015: Technical Forum | Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences (RIMLS) | Nijmegen | the Netherlands
2007 - 2010: Bachelor | Biochemistry, Histology, Cellular Biology, Microbiology | Institut Universitaire Technique A | University Claude Bernard Lyon 1 | France
Other positions
Outreach activities
Selected Invited Lectures
| 2025 | Antigenic characterization of recent clade 2-3-4-4B, clade 2-3-2-1A, clade 2-3-2-1E, clade 2-3-2-1G | WHO Strain Selection meeting |Sapporo | Japan |
| 2025 | Antigenic evolution of H5 viruses and subtype-wide H5 vaccine development | European Medicines Agency | Online |
| 2025 | Adjuvanted inactivated zoonotic influenza A(H5N8) vaccination (CSL Seqirus) induces antibody and T-cell responses to HPAI clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses | European Health Securiy Committee | Online |
| 2025 | Adjuvanted inactivated zoonotic influenza A(H5N8) vaccination (CSL Seqirus) induces antibody and T-cell responses to HPAI clade 2.3.4.4b A(H5N1) viruses | Rijksinstituut voor Volksgezondheid en Milieu | Bilthoven | the Netherlands |
| 2025 | H5 antigenic evolution and antigenically central vaccines for subtype-wide immunity | European Vaccine Hub | Online |
| 2025 | Antigenic evolution of H5 viruses and subtype-wide H5 vaccine development | RESAFLU meeting | Toulouse | France |
| 2025 | A vaccine antigen central in influenza A(H5) virus antigenic space confers subtype-wide immunity | Vaccine Symposium | Utrecht | the Netherlands |
| 2025 | Polymerase trapping as mechanism of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus genesis | McMaster University | Hamilton | Canada |
| 2025 | Antigenic evolution of H5 viruses and subtype-wide H5 vaccine development | Viper symposium | University of Veterinary Medicine | Hannover | Germany |
| 2024 | Polymerase trapping as mechanism of H5 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus genesis | EMBL | Grenoble | France |
| 2024 | A vaccine antigen central in influenza A(H5) virus antigenic space confers subtype-wide immunity | with Dr. Marazzo, head of US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases | Online |
| 2024 | Antigenically central hemagglutinin-based vaccines broadly covering avian A/H5 influenza virus antigenic space | US Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority | Online |
| 2024 | Risk assessment of highly pathogenic avian influenza clade 2.3.4.4b A/H5N1 and A/H5N6 viruses using the ferret model | Flu Trail Map – UK One health consortium | Online |
| 2023 | Antigen design for broadly reactive vaccines covering H5 avian influenza virus antigenic space | EU Health Emergency and Preparedness and Response | Online |
| 2023 | Antigen design for broadly reactive vaccines covering H5 avian influenza virus antigenic space | US National Institute of Health/Division of Microbiology and Infectious Disease | Online |
| 2023 | Emergence of highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses | Coordonated Actions | French Research Council (ARNS) | Paris | France |
Other positions
Editorial boards
| 2022 – present | Guest Editor of PLOS Pathogens |
| 2021 – present | Academic Editor of Microbiology Spectrum | Section Virology |
| 2021 – 2023 | Associate Editor of Frontiers in Virology | Viral Disease Investigation |
| 2021 | Guest Editor of Viruses Special topic | Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus emergence |
| 2020 - 2022 | Topic Editor of Viruses| |
| 2018 | Guest Editor of Frontiers in Microbiology Special topic | RNA virus polymerases: forming bonds and balancing errors |
| 2018 - 2021 | Academic Editor PLOS One |
Review panel member
| 2026 | French Medical Research Foundation |
| 2025 | Reviewer for Pasteur Institute Paris |
| 2025 | Evaluation Committee Dutch Research Council (NWO) | Vici program |
| 2022 - present | Committee PhD Defenses | Dilweg (2022), Lamers (2022), Wolff (2022), Rijsbergen (2023), Filaire (2023), Spruit (2024), Mykytyn (2024), Crespo (2024), Aartse (2025) |
| 2011 - present | Frequent reviewer for top journals in the field | Nature, Nature Microbiology, Nature communications, PLOS Pathogens, Cell Host&Microbe, Cell reports, elife, mBio, Journal of Virology (non-exhaustive list) |
| 2023 - 2025 | Member International Scientific Evaluation Committee Priority Research and Equipment Program Emerging and Infectious Diseases PEPR MIE | French Research Council (ARNS) |
| 2023 | Evaluation Committee Dutch Research Council (NWO) | Veni program |
| 2023 | Reviewer for the Max Plank Institute | Kouba Dioscuri program |
| 2023 | Reviewer for ISIDORe | Integrated Services for Infectious Disease Outbreak Research |
| 2020 | Reviewer for the French National Research Council| |
| 2019 | Reviewer for the Polish National Research Council |
Organisation of scientific meetings
| 2018 | 8th Orthomyxovirus Research Conference | Hanoi | Vietnam |
| 2018 | 1rst Dutch Replication Meeting | Delft | the Netherlands |
| 2016 | International expert workshop on pathogen inter- and intraspecies transmission | the Netherlands |
External consultancies
| 2015 | European Food Safety Agency (EFSA) on the mechanisms and risk factors for the transition from LPAIV to HPAIV |
Institutional responsibilities
| 2022 - present | Supervisor of the Intervision PhD program, Erasmus MC |
| 2021 - present | Core teacher of the Infection and Immunity (I&I) Master, ErasmusMC |
| 2015 - present | PI and co-PI on several approved Centrale Commissie Dierproven (CCD) project licences |
| 2022 - 2025 | Member of the National Influenza Center |
Scholarships, grants, and awards
Current
2025-2027: NIH/NIAID Centers of Excellence on Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR) | Longitudinal cohort project | PI | USD 608.400: Immunogenicity of an antigenically central A(H5) mRNA vaccine in humans
2025-2028: European Partnership on Animal Health and Welfare | co-PI | EUR 150.000: Evolution of avian influenza viruses in the context of vaccination
2024-2025: NIH/NIAID Centers of Excellence on Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR) | Translational Development Project | PI | USD 380.250: Pre-clinical evaluation of an antigenically central A(H5) mRNA vaccine
2024: Dutch avian influenza consortium | co-PI | EUR 200.000/EUR 125.000 EMC
2024-2027: EU Horizon MSCA | Doctoral network | Partner, WP leader | EUR 274.370: Management of avian influenza in a vaccination context
2023-2025: NIH/NIAID Centers of Excellence on Influenza Research and Response (CEIRR) | Pilot project | PI | USD 507.000: The role of small nucleolar RNAs in nonhomologous recombination between influenza virus genes or with exogenous RNA
2023-2028: NIH/NIAID R01 | PI | USD 1.830.000: Unravelling highly pathogenic influenza virus emergence
2022-2026: Dutch Research council (NWO-ENW) | M1 grant | PI | EUR 364.496: INFLUENCE: Unravelling highly pathogenic influenza virus emergence
2022-2027: EU4Health program | co-PI (consortium) | EUR 1.549.903: Delivering a Unified Research Alliance of Biomedical and Public Health Laboratories against Epidemics (DURABLE)
2023-2028: EU Horizon 2020 program | co-PI (consortium) | EUR 1.093.750: Kappa-Flu: Understanding the connectivity and dynamics of avian influenza in wild birds, poultry and the environment
2022-2027: NIH/NIAID R01 | Co-investigator | USD 763.473: Integrating measurements of immune escape and in vitro replication with computational models to understand and predict the antigenic evolution of seasonal A/H3N2 influenza viruses
2021-2028: NIH/NIAID CEIRR | Base contract | co-PI | USD 1.200.000: Molecular determinants of viral emergence, virulence, evolution and transmission
Past
2022-2026: NIH/NIAID R01 | Co-investigator | USD 763.473 : Integrating measurements of immune escape and in vitro replication with computational models to understand and predict the antigenic evolution of seasonal A/H3N2 influenza viruses
2017-2022: EU Horizon 2020 program | PI (consortium) | EUR 539.750: Delta-Flu: Dynamics of avian influenza in a changing world
2018-2021: NIH/NIAID Center of Excellence on Influenza Research and Surveillance (CEIRS) | Pilot project | PI | USD 400.000: Genesis and pathogenesis of highly pathogenic avian influenza A viruses in avian species
2015-2021: Biomedical Advanced Research Development Authority (BARDA) | co-PI | USD 1.650.420: Advanced vaccination and immunity management strategies to protect from influenza virus infection
2016-2021: NIH/NIAID CEIRS | Surveillance core project | co-PI | USD 436.168: Development and assessment of antigenically advanced candidate vaccine viruses for seasonal human influenza
2016-2021: NIH/NIAID CEIRS | Emerging pathogen project | co-PI | USD 328.700: Tracing the antigenic evolution of H5 hemagglutinins using antigenic cartography
2017-2019: NIH/NIAID CEIRS | Immune response project | co-PI | USD 290.000: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells analyses of the hemagglutinin-specific B cell repertoire
2014-2021: NIH/NIAID CEIRS | Base contract | co-PI | USD 3.516.509: Hemagglutinin determinants of virus phenotype: antigenicity, virulence, and transmission
2011: NIH/NIAID CEIRS | Pilot Project | co-PI | USD 300.000
2012: EUR Fellowship | EUR 7.000
2007-2010: PhD Fellowship | French Ministry of Education and Research | top 5% | EUR 60.000
Collaborations
Active
- Dr. Cameron Myhrvold | RNA Crispr proteins | Princeton University | USA
- Prof. Stan Brouns | RNA Crispr proteins | Technical University Delft | the Netherlands
- Prof. Stephen Cusack | Structure of RNA dependent RNA polymerase | EMBL | France
- Dr. Seema Lakdawala | Protein-RNA interactions in influenza viruses | Emory University | USA
- Dr. Aartjan te Velthuis | Influenza virus polymerase replication and transcription | Princeton University | USA
- Dr. David Bauer | RNA structure probing in influenza virus genome | Francis Crick Institute | UK
- Dr. El-Sayed El-Whab | Highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses tropism | Friedrich-Loeffler-Institute, |Germany
- Dr. Robert de Vries & Prof. Geert-Jan Boons | Influenza virus receptor binding | Utrecht University | The Netherlands
- Prof. Derek Smith | Antigenic evolution of influenza viruses | University of Cambridge | UK
- Prof. Yoshiro Kawaoka & Dr. Gabriele Neumann | Antigenic evolution of influenza viruses | University of Winsconsin | USA
Past
- Dr. Anice Lowen | Reassortment of influenza virus | Emory University of School of Medicine | USA
- Dr. Sascha Trapp | Development of avian cell culture systems | University of Tours | France
- Prof. Nynke Dekker | Single molecule studies of RNA dependent RNA polymerases | Delft University of Technology | the Netherlands
- Dr. Chris Mok | Risk assessment of emerging zoonotic avian influenza A viruses | Hong-Kong University Pasteur Research Pole | China
- Dr. Kirsty Short | Interactions between lung epithelial and endothelial cells | Brisbane University | Australia
My Groups
Group of dr. Richard
Current members
Nicolas Urdaneta Piragauta | PhD Student | 2025 - present
Roy Hutchison | PhD Student | 2024 - present
Monique Spronken | PhD Student | 2023 - present
Willemijn Rijnink | PhD student | 2021 - present
Angeliki Anna Beka | Post-Doc | 2024 - present
Ecco Staller| Post-Doc | 2025 – present
Daryl Geers | Post-Doc | 2025 – present
Femke Volker | Technician | 1 FTE
Theo Bestebroer | Technician | 0.5 FTE
Mark Pronk | Technician | 0.5 FTE
Former members
Post-Docs | Mathis Funk
PhD Students | Anja de Bruin, Victor Lorente Leal, Adinda Kok
MSc Students | Rik Ruijten, Evelin Valjaots, Lieke de Jong, Raissa Davis, Geunho Choi, Anne Reiners
BSc Students | Sivana Baptista Varela, Lars van den Biggelaar, Rik Bouwels, Romy van Acker, Jocynthe Buzink
Technicians | Rachel Scheur, Djenolan van Mourik, Stefan van der Vliet
