Viruses belonging to the large family of Picornaviridae such as enteroviruses, rhinoviruses and parechoviruses represent the most commonly encountered infectious agents in mankind. Several research groups in Europe are active on different aspects of picornavirus research. Nevertheless, prevalence, transmission, and pathogenesis are still largely unknown and no therapy is available for picorna infections. Within the present AIROPico project, the partners now are teaming up to combine the disciplines of pathogenesis, diagnostics and therapy development in order to understand disease and to develop effective antiviral treatments.The present AIROPico project will provide interdisciplinary education and training to university scientists and company researchers, through intersectoral staff exchange and collaboration in the context of a highly innovative research and development project on picornavirus biology, diagnostics and therapy.The general aim of this project is to build up a sustainable, interdisciplinary, integrated academia-industry consortium to explore and unravel mechanisms of human picornavirus pathogenesis and to develop fast diagnostics, novel treatment options and additional therapy strategies.The project partners (all active in the field of picornaviruses from different perspectives) will work closely together on biological characterization of virus types, diagnostics and therapy development. The project will concentrate on combining knowledge, experiences and new research techniques (through secondments, recruitment and training) in a focused and joint collaborative effort, needed to tackle the health problems due to picornaviruses, but also needed to tackle the challenges faced in the development and marketing of new diagnostics and treatments.