Newsroom

Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH), a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), together with an interdisciplinary team of partners, have identified the fire-footed rope squirrel (Funisciurus pyrropus) as a likely natural reservoir of the monkeypox virus (MPXV). Their study was published today in the renowned scientific journal Nature. The discovery was based on the detailed investigation of an mpox outbreak among wild sooty mangabeys (Cercocebus atys) in Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire. Scientists combined ecological, behavioral and molecular evidence to document, for the first time, the interspecies transmission of MPXV in the wild, from fire-footed rope squirrels to sooty mangabeys.

The Helmholtz Association is launching a nationwide biomedical engineering initiative to accelerate technology development and transfer activities. Led by its established Health Centers, “Helmholtz Biomedical Engineering” brings together cutting-edge infrastructure and expertise to collaboratively develop innovative solutions for continuous health monitoring, disease prevention, earlier detection and more personalized diagnostic and therapy. Building on regional academic strength and through fostering industry collaborations, this national initiative aims to excel Germany’s position as global hub for biomedical engineering and health technology innovations.

Zoonotic diseases — infections that can pass between animals and humans — are a growing global health challenge, particularly in regions where people live in close contact with wildlife. Understanding these interactions lies at the heart of the One Health approach. The Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH) and its partners are now launching their first unique One Health cohort initiative in and around Taï National Park, Côte d’Ivoire, as part of the One Health Exploratories. HIOH is a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI).

Phyton Biotech has successfully transferred the manufacturing process for the microbial production of Corallopyronin A (CorA). CorA is a novel anti-infective agent with the potential to address neglected tropical diseases. This achievement marks a significant step forward in the Company’s specialty GMP fermentation capabilities and supports the broader clinical development program led by the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF).

On February 5, 2026, the President of the Helmholtz Association, Prof. Martin Keller, visited the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig. In an open and cordial atmosphere, Keller took part in a comprehensive program that offered insights into the center's current research work, infrastructure and future prospects. Keller, who has been President of the Helmholtz Association since November 1, 2025, placed particular emphasis on direct interaction with HZI employees.

The German National Cohort (NAKO) contributes its scientific expertise to the National Decade of Post-Infectious Diseases initiated by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR). With two central projects, it makes an important contribution to research into the long-term health consequences of infectious diseases such as Long COVID. The aim of the research decade is to better understand the causes and mechanisms of post-infectious diseases and to develop new treatment options. The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) coordinates the Clinical Research Center (CRC) of the NAKO in Hanover.