Our work is supported by:
German Research Foundation
The German Research Foundation (DFG) is the central funding organization for academic research in Germany. It finances research projects, designs competitive funding programs, and conducts peer review processes for research proposals. The DFG also establishes standards and frameworks for scientific work, fosters dialogue with society, politics, and industry, and supports the transfer of knowledge. Additionally, it provides advice to governmental and public institutions on scientific and science policy matters.
Collaborative Research Centre 1648 "Emerging viruses"
The Collaborative Research Center 1648 aims to address gaps in knowledge for fighting emerging viral infections. This is achieved by studying the causes, characteristics and responses to viral infections. Advanced techniques are being used to understand how viruses and the body interact. The consortium will dissect key aspects of both immune defence and immune pathology, addressing open research questions in vaccine design that can be translated to other emerging viruses and inform research and clinical strategy for intervention against future outbreaks.This research consortium brings together a multidisciplinary team of scientists from basic and clinical research to address the major challenge posed by emerging viruses through 16 research projects, one service project and one outreach project. All PhD and MD students are automatically enrolled in the Integrated Research Training Group (iRTG).
Marylyn Addo is the spokesperson of the CRC 1648 and project leader of the project D03 "Dissecting protective immunity to viral vector vaccines againstemerging viruses"
Contact
Marie Weskamm , Project D03
Research Unit 5068 "Sex differences in immunity"
Men and women respond differently to vaccination: Women often develop higher antibody responses, but also experience more adverse reactions. Sex hormones and incomplete X-linked inactivation (XCI) may influence these differences. The exact mechanisms are not fully understood.
We hypothesise that differences in Fc-mediated antibody functions and gene dosage effects lead to different vaccine responses. Our research is investigating two vaccines against MERS and influenza, and different immune responses have been observed between the sexes.
In our project in the DFG-funded Reasearch Unit 5068, we are investigating sex-specific differences in immune responses through detailed analyses to promote individualised vaccine approaches.
Find out more on sex differences in immunity:
Research Unit 5068
| Sex differences in immunity
DFG GEPRIS RU 5068
Contact Tamara Zoran, Scientist
German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)
Problems in infection research demand decisive action: Chronic infections, increasing numbers of immunocompromised patients in an ageing society, the global spread of antibiotic resistance and emerging viruses are among the major challenges in infectiology today. The DZIF's infection research activities are strategically focused on addressing these challenges.
To this end, the DZIF has brought together the expertise of over 700 researchers from 35 member institutions and from a wide range of disciplines, including medicine, biology, epidemiology, chemistry and bioinformatics.
The IIRVD was funded by the DZIF for the development of a SARS-Corona vaccine ( link ) and as part of the Working Group "Clinical management and epidemiology of emerging infections" ( link ).
Marylyn Addo is the spokesperson and coordinator of the DZIF Research Area 'Emerging infections' .
The DZIF is one of the six German Centers for Health Research ( DZG ) Deutsche Zentren der Gesundheitsforschung (DZG)
Contact Melanie Richter, Project Manager Emerging Infections
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
The BMBF funds a single center study of the immunogenicity of recombinant Vesicular Stomatitis vaccine for Ebola-Zaire (rVSV∆G-ZEBOV-GP) for pre-exposure prophylaxis in individuals at potential occupational risk for Ebola virus exposure – EU Site Germany (PREPARE-Germany).
CEPI
CEPI finances the two-center, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase Ib study to assess the safety, tolerability and immunogenicity of two ascending doses of the candidate vaccine MVA-MERS-S_DF-1 in healthy study subjects.
Contact Svenja Hardtke, Coordinator
