Newsroom

3D culture of hair follicles with three hairs.
News
Hair follicle infections are often difficult to treat because bacteria settle in the gap between hair and skin, where it is difficult for active substances to reach them. In order to investigate this scenario more closely in the laboratory, researchers from the Department of Drug Delivery Across Biological Barriers at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) have now developed a model with human hair follicles embedded in a matrix produced using 3D printing. In the future, this model can be used to test the effectiveness of new drug candidates against corresponding pathogens directly on human follicles. The team has published their results in the journal ACS Biomaterials Science & Engineering.
29.07.2024
Graphical representation of the world
News
In the years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the effectiveness of government-ordered measures to contain the pandemic, such as regular testing and the wearing of medical masks, was repeatedly called into question. Through a large-scale analysis of viral genome data, a working group led by DZIF researcher Prof Alice McHardy at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has now discovered that significantly fewer new variants of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus entered Germany in connection with the introduction of certain measures such as the wearing of medical masks and free access to rapid antigen tests.
18.07.2024
Lina Herhaus (top left), Martin Jahn (top right), Milan Gerovac (bottom left) and Natalia Torow (bottom right) are MICROSTAR junior research group leaders at HZI.
News
At the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, four young scientists will start their work in late summer and fall 2024 to investigate resilience mechanisms of microbes and humans. As part of the MICROSTAR (Microbial Stargazing) project, Lina Herhaus, Martin Jahn, Milan Gerovac and Natalia Torow were recruited in a highly competitive process. Over an initial period of five years, their research groups will investigate cutting edge issues related to signal transmission in infections, the intestinal microbiome, bacteriophages and the development of immunity.
17.07.2024
Symbolic image of gene scissors.
News
CRISPR-Cas systems, defense systems in bacteria, have become a plentiful source of technologies for molecular diagnostics. Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg have expanded this extensive toolbox. Their novel method, called PUMA, enables the detection of RNA with Cas12 nucleases, which naturally target DNA. PUMA promises a wide range of applications and high accuracy. The team published its results in the journal Nature Communications.
16.07.2024
Scientist at Podcast recording.
News
The huge community of microorganisms in our gut keeps us healthy. And when things go wrong, we get sick. And not just a little: Disorders of our microbiome could be the trigger for morbid obesity, diabetes, inflammatory bowel diseases and even depression or cancer. Dr Lisa Osbelt-Block knows this. She conducts research at the HZI in the ‘Microbial Immune Regulation’ research group headed by Prof Till Strowig and is fascinated by our little fellow inhabitants. In this episode of the HZI podcast InFact she talks about how our microbiome keeps our body healthy and what happens when it is not in order. She also talks about current research into the microbiome and how the findings can be used to treat diseases.
16.07.2024
Dr Nicole Schneider-Daum in the laboratory.
News
The lungs have a very complex structure, which makes it difficult to simulate them in the laboratory using human cell line models. As a result, researchers still rely on animal testing in preclinical studies to develop inhaled drugs. A research team led by Dr Nicole Schneider-Daum of the Department of Drug Delivery across Biological Barriers at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) has succeeded in establishing a human lung cell line that is suitable for the development of in vitro models. Schneider-Daum's team was awarded the Saarland research prize "Alternatives to animal testing" for this achievement.
15.07.2024

HZI in the media

Vorsorge Das Coronavirus hält die Welt nicht mehr in Atem. Doch was, wenn ein ­anderer gefährlicher Erreger auftaucht? So wappnet sich unser Gesundheitssystem

16.03.2026
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Apotheken Umschau

... stumpfen ab“, erklärt Marc Brönstrup vom Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung in Braunschweig. Neue Antibiotika sind dringend ...

14.03.2026
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ARD Mediathek

... der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover und dem Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) in Braunschweig neue Wirkstoffe ...

13.03.2026
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MTA Dialog

... späten 1990ern hob sie der am Saarbrücker Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland (HIPS) tätige ...

08.03.2026
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Saarbrücker Zeitung

European institutions, including Germany’s Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research, Helmholtz Center for Infection Research,

06.03.2026
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Clinical Lab Products

Die Zellen kontrollieren die Reaktion des Immunsystems und verhindern Schäden durch Selbstangriffe. Forschende arbeiten daran, sie zur Therapie einzusetzen.

05.03.2026
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NDR Norddeutscher Rundfunk

Nachwuchsgruppe „Nanoinfektionsbiologie“ am HZI. Diese Lücke soll das Projekt ONEMUC (Respiratorischer Mukus als One Health-Schnittstelle) ...

03.03.2026
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DeutschesGesundheitsPortal

Hochschule Hannover (MHH) und des Helmholz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung (HZI) erforschen im Rahmen des Projektes StopPSC ( ...

03.03.2026
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Biermann Medizin

Mdisk, stock.adobe.com

 

Braunschweig – Das Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung ( HZI ) in Braunschweig erhält für sein ...

03.03.2026
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Deutsches Ärzteblatt

Josef Penninger, wissenschaftlicher Geschäftsführer des Helmholtz Zentrums für Infektionsforschung in Braunschweig und Professor für

01.03.2026
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EUROPE SAYS

... Körperzellen. Damit tragen wir, wie das Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) es treffend beschreibt, unseren „ganz ...

27.02.2026
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MSN Deutschland

Eine Impfung bringt das Immunsystem in Stellung, bevor der echte Erreger kommt. Erfahren Sie, wie ...

26.02.2026
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Apotheken Umschau

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