Newsroom

Dr. Julia Port and Dr. Marina Greweling-Pils
Interview
Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) are studying important mechanisms for the development of infectious diseases and how they can be treated or prevented. Some of the research questions can only be answered with the help of animal experiments. Dr. Julia Port, head of the junior research group “Laboratory of Transmission Immunology”, and Dr. Marina Greweling-Pils, head of the research group “Core Facility of Comparative Medicine” and Animal Welfare Officer at the HZI, explain in an interview to mark the World Day for Laboratory Animals 2025 why not all animal experiments can be replaced and why choosing the right animal model is crucial for reliable scientific results.
23.04.2025
Wild snake stew
Interview
Bushmeat, the meat of wild animals hunted for food, is consumed across cultures and considered a delicacy in most parts of the world. Especially in sub-Saharan Africa, it still represents a major fraction of the proteins consumed. However, the close contact between humans and diverse tropical wildlife species — potentially harboring a wide variety of pathogens — poses a significant risk for the transmission of zoonotic diseases. The project "BehaviorChange: Co-creating and evaluating behavioral change interventions for reducing the zoonotic risk associated with wildlife consumption" aims to characterize the zoonotic risks associated with bushmeat consumption in Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia, and to understand its socio-economical drivers.
14.03.2025
Portrait Natalia Torow
Interview
Dr Natalia Torow researches the immune system of newborns, seeking to understand how it responds to pathogens and vaccinations to better prevent early-life infections. Since 2024, she has led the junior research group "Early Life Immunity" at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, introducing a new research focus to the institution. In this interview, she discusses the neonatal immune system’s "silent mode," her goal of optimizing oral vaccines, and how she balances life as a researcher with family responsibilities.
06.03.2025
AI in research
Interview
A conversation with Prof. Andreas Keller from the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) and Prof. Yang Li from the Centre for Individualised Infection Medicine (CiiM) about artificial intelligence (AI) in individualized infection medicine.
28.11.2024
Flies help to determine biodiversity.
Interview
Veterinarian Dr. Fee Zimmermann collects long-term data on human, animal and environmental health in the African tropics and on her doorstep - in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. She heads a research group at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH) in Greifswald. In this interview, she talks about the importance of the tropics for future disease outbreaks and about animal helpers in data collection.
28.11.2024
Web banner
Interview, Story
The annual World Antimicrobial Resistance Awareness Week (WAAW) is a global campaign to draw attention to the dangers of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It also aims to inform people about behaviors that can reduce the occurrence and spread of drug-resistant infections. The WAAW is celebrated every year from November 18 to 24. The motto in 2024 is “Educate. Advocate. Act now.”.
18.11.2024

HZI in the media

at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) and the Institute of Molecular Infection Biology (IMIB) in Würzburg has

10.09.2025
|
Phys.org

Leiter der Abteilung Chemische Biologie am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung in Braunschweig www.helmholtz-hzi.de ...

10.09.2025
|
BR Bayerischer Rundfunk

... at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg. The institute is a ...

09.09.2025
|
Analytik NEWS

Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) und assoziiertes Mitglied des Helmholtz-Instituts für RNA-basierte Infektionsforschung (HIRI).

08.09.2025
|
Verband Deutscher Biologen e.V.

and manufactured the investigational product. The Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) contributed through the

07.09.2025
|
ScienceDaily

and an associate member of the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI).

 

Additional collaborators included Professors

04.09.2025
|
Phys.org

JMU) Würzburg und ein Forscher vom Helmholtz-Institut für RNA-basierte Infektionsforschung (HIRI) mit ihren Bewerbungen ...

04.09.2025
|
Open PR.de

Studie und Hersteller des Prüfpräparats. Das Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland (HIPS) war bei ...

03.09.2025
|
Biermann Medizin

Das undatierte Foto vom Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) zeigt die elektronenmikroskopische Aufnahme von EHEC-Bakterien. © ...

02.09.2025
|
MSN Deutschland

Register now for the HZI-Newsletter