ViroiDoc Project

About the project

ViroiDoc is an international and multidisciplinary doctoral network focused on understanding and tackling viroids, small RNA pathogens that threaten global crop production. Aligned with the European Green Deal and the Farm-to-Fork strategy, the project contributes to sustainable agriculture and food security.

Through a consortium of academic and industry partners, ViroiDoc trains 10 doctoral candidates (MSCA fellows) in an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral environment, equipping them with the skills and experience needed for careers in research, biotechnology, and agricultural innovation.

Research focus areas

Research focus

ViroiDoc addresses key challenges in plant health and RNA biology:

  • Viroids as plant pathogens and their impact on crop production.

  • Emerging viroid-like RNAs in plants, fungi, and other organisms.

  • Mechanisms of infection, replication, and host interactions.

  • The influence of climate change and global trade on pathogen emergence and spread.

Why it matters

Plant diseases threaten crop production, food security, and environmental sustainability.

ViroiDoc helps address these challenges by improving our understanding of viroids and developing new tools for their detection and control.

What ViroiDoc aims to achieve?

Close the knowledge gaps

Understanding viroid pathogenesis

Exploring how viroids infect plants and interact with their hosts.

Assess the risks

Anticipating emerging threats

Assessing risks linked to novel viroid-like RNAs and their spread.

Develop viroid diagnostics

Developing diagnostics

Creating innovative tools for rapid and reliable detection.

Create collaborative RNA-oriented ecosystem

Developing control strategies

Supporting sustainable approaches to plant disease management.

ViroiDoc Consortium

ViroiDoc brings together 22 academic and industrial partners from 11 countries, combining expertise in viroid research, biotechnology, innovation, entrepreneurship support, and researcher training. Together, they foster scientific excellence and equip early-career researchers with the skills needed for successful careers both within and beyond academia. More about partners.

Horizon Europe MSCA

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) under the EU research framework programme Horizon Europe support excellence in research and innovation. The MSCA funds doctoral and postdoctoral programmes and collaborative research and innovation projects with various calls. ViroiDoc project is funded through the Horizon Europe – MSCA Doctoral Networks. 

About MSCA

The programme promotes the uptake of the principles of the Charter for Researchers and the objectives of the European framework for research careers by improving recruitment and working conditions and setting standards for researchers. The MSCA also make a notable contribution to the reform of research assessment systems, promoting a broad definition of excellence and diverse career paths, in line with the European Commission’s commitment to the process initiated by the Coalition for Advancing Research Assessment (CoARA).

About MSCA Doctoral Networks Action

Doctoral Networks implement programmes to recruit and train doctoral candidates in academia and other sectors, including industry, businesses, and public administrations. The scheme includes the development of joint degrees, including a possible European degree, and industrial doctorates, training doctoral candidates in academia and other sectors, including industry and business.