Daniel Hurdiss

Daniel Hurdiss serves as an Assistant Professor and NWO Veni laureate at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Netherlands. His research focuses on virology and structural biology, particularly using cryo-electron microscopy to analyze viral protein structures and functions. He is affiliated with the Infectious Diseases & Immunology division, where he investigates mechanisms of viral entry, replication, and immune evasion to identify targets for antiviral therapies.

• PhD in Structural Biology (2018), University of Leeds
• BSc Microbiology (2014), University of Leeds

His work integrates biochemical experiments with structural analysis to uncover how viruses invade and manipulate host cells. Recent studies include:

• Structural characterization of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein interactions
• Mechanistic analysis of enterovirus 2C protein inhibition
• Design of broad-spectrum antiviral peptides and antibodies

From 2025 publications, trends include:

• Engineering multispecific inhibitors for sarbecoviruses
• Developing nanobody-based therapies for cross-protection
• Mapping cryptic epitopes in zoonotic coronaviruses

Scientific awards and grants:

• Beijerinck Premium (2023) for early-career virology
• NWO Veni Grant (2021) for enterovirus research
• Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow (2019-2021)
• EMBO Long-Term Fellow (2019-2021)

He collaborates extensively on cross-neutralizing antibodies, antiviral drug development, and viral structural dynamics, with grants for projects like "Unraveling enterovirus 2C functions" and "Corona Accelerated R&D in Europe."