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Model of the influenza virus
News
Two collaborative projects involving the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) are being funded with 100,000 euros each from the joint program "zukunft.niedersachsen" of the state of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation. Both projects result from the collaboration between HZI and the MRC–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR), established in 2024 as part of a cooperation between the Helmholtz Association and the British Medical Research Council (MRC). The funded MARITH project will grow organoids from throat tonsil tissue to study the development of immunological memory in humans, while the ViReST project analyzes the sites of viral replication in respiratory infections and their impact on virus transmission.
20.01.2026
Researchers in the laboratory
News
The global skin care company Beiersdorf and the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) have entered into a long-term, exclusive partnership. In this collaboration they aim to investigate the role of the skin microbiome in maintaining healthy skin. The goal is to identify natural products produced by microorganisms on the skin that have a positive effect on skin balance. The project is based on extensive data sets on microorganisms that inhabit human skin.
13.01.2026
Cryo-electron microscope image of the nuclease Cas12a3 with illustrated scissors
News
The CRISPR “gene scissors” have become an important basis for genome-editing technologies in many fields, ranging from biology and medicine to agriculture and industry. A team from the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg has now demonstrated that these CRISPR-Cas systems are even more versatile than previously thought. In cooperation with the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and Utah State University (USU) in Logan (USA), the scientists have discovered a novel CRISPR defense mechanism: Unlike known nucleases, Cas12a3 specifically destroys transfer ribonucleic acids (tRNA) that are vital for protein production to shut down infected cells. The team published its findings today in the journal Nature.
07.01.2026
Picture of Chase Beisel
News
The gene scissors CRISPR-Cas are an important tool for genome editing. However, their functionality is limited because they rely on specific sequences to operate. Their ancient ancestors, on the other hand, may have been much more versatile. Rediscovering their forgotten abilities and harnessing them for biotechnological applications is the goal of the “RGNcestry” research project led by Chase Beisel, affiliated department head at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI). The European Research Council (ERC) is funding the project with ten million euros over a period of six years.
23.12.2025
Digitale Darstellung mehrere Menschen
News
Rare diseases affecting fewer than five in 10,000 people are often particularly difficult to diagnose and treat. As part of their joint funding program “zukunft.niedersachsen”, the state of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagen Foundation have now selected nine promising research projects for funding that aim to develop new diagnoses and treatments for rare diseases. Among them are two projects from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI). The PREDICT-CTP consortium of TWINCORE, the HZI, and Hannover Medical School (MHH) is developing a new diagnostic method for rheumatic diseases. In the StopPSC project, researchers from the HZI and MHH are developing new agents to treat primary sclerosing cholangitis, a chronically progressive inflammation of the bile ducts.
22.12.2025
EHEC bacteria on an intestinal cell
News
Experts are increasingly turning to machine learning to predict antibiotic resistance in pathogens. With its help, resistance mechanisms can be identified based on a pathogen’s genetics. However, the results should be viewed with caution: Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg have shown that the models are often less reliable than assumed. Their findings were published in the journal PLOS Biology. They contribute to the development of more reliable tools for predicting and combating antibiotic resistance.
17.12.2025

HZI in the media

... Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung

 

02.09.2025 12:36

 

DLR Projektträger

 

02.10.2025 07:49 ...

17.04.2026
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Informations Dienst Wissenschaft

Wissenschaftler des Max-Delbrück-Centrums und des Helmholtz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung haben eine umfassende Protein-Karte von

17.04.2026
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IT Boltwise

In January 2023, researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health in Germany noticed that an infant monkey known as a sooty mangabey

15.04.2026
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New Atlas

at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), a site of the Braunschweig Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI)

14.04.2026
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Phys.org

... der Infektion und Nozizeption“ am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) in Braunschweig. Nozizeption ist der Fachbegriff ...

14.04.2026
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Verband Deutscher Biologen e.V.

... recht nicht bei Fabian Leendertz, der in Greifswald das „Helmholtz-Institut für One Health“ leitet. Im ...

14.04.2026
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FAZ.NET

... sich auch das Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland ( HIPS ), das Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung ( HZI ) ...

09.04.2026
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Deutsches Ärzteblatt

... ÖAW in Wien und nun Gruppenleiter am Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung in Braunschweig, forscht an ...

08.04.2026
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DerStandard.de

... group within the Microstar Program at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and a ...

31.03.2026
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Informations Dienst Wissenschaft

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