Increasing antibiotic resistance, chronic infections and emerging pathogens pose major challenges for the public health system.

While the central importance of RNA in regulatory and sensory cell processes has become increasingly evident in recent years, its role in infection processes remains largely unknown.

Research at the Interface of RNA & Infection

Against this background, HIRI was founded in May 2017 as a partnership between the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU).

HIRI's goal is to harness the extraordinary potential of ribonucleic acids (RNA) for the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases by means of interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art infrastructure.

Extraordinary things are expected not only from the research object RNA, but also from the new HIRI building. Flexible office space, temporary workplaces, niches for thinking aloud and quietly as well as for discussions are intended to support dynamic working, help with thinking and enable communication. The groundbreaking ceremony for the new HIRI took place in July 2023. The roofing ceremony is planned for September 24, 2025.