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On 18–20 November 2025, the Central African Republic (CAR) celebrated its first-ever Dzanga-Sangha Day (La Journée des Aires Protégées de Dzanga-Sangha). Conceived as a three-day national event, the celebration aimed to shine a spotlight on the country’s unique natural heritage and raise awareness of the Dzanga-Sangha Protected Areas (DSPA)—an extraordinary conservation landscape in CAR’s remote southwest. Held under the theme “Reconciling Nature, Health and Development”, the event underscored how biodiversity protection, community wellbeing, and scientific research intersect in DSPA. It was co-organized by the Government of the Central African Republic in partnership with WWF and the Helmholtz Institute for One Health (HIOH).

03.12.2025

HIOH

Group photo with 11 people behind a 3D lettering “HZI 60”

News

On November 27, 2025, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) celebrated its 60th anniversary with a ceremony attended by cooperation partners, alumni, and guests from the worlds of science, politics, and industry. The research institution has been located on the Science Campus Braunschweig-Süd since 1965 and underwent several reorientations and renaming in the following decades. Among those offering their congratulations at the ceremony were Lower Saxony's Minister President Olaf Lies, the new President of the Helmholtz Association Prof. Martin Keller, and his predecessor and long-time companion of the HZI, Prof. Otmar D. Wiestler.

27.11.2025

HZI Campus

Crystal structure of LecA and tolcapone.

News

When the hospital germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa infects the body, it uses the sugar-binding protein LecA to attach itself to human cells, invade them, and form so-called biofilms. LecA thus plays a central role in the development and progression of infections with this pathogen, which is classified as particularly critical by the WHO. Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) have now discovered that the approved Parkinson's drug tolcapone is able to specifically inhibit the activity of LecA. This finding allows the research team to develop new strategies for combating Pseudomonas infections. The researchers published their findings in the journal Angewandte Chemie International Edition.

26.11.2025

HIPS

Group of people discussing research findings

News

Liver transplants often save the lives of seriously ill patients. However, there remains a risk that the body will reject the new organ. Doctors distinguish between acute and chronic rejection. While acute rejection is easy to diagnose and treat, chronic rejection causes lasting damage to the organ, is difficult to detect – currently only possible by examining tissue samples under a microscope – and is often overlooked. An international research team led by Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has now discovered clear molecular signatures for chronic rejection even after liver transplantation, which could aid diagnosis. After ten years of work, the findings have now been published in the Journal of Hepatology.

24.11.2025

CiiM

Poster for the HZI in the Science Showcase from December 3-17; topic: "Mikrokosmos ganz groß"

News

To mark its 60th anniversary, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) is bringing its research to the heart of Braunschweig's city center from 3 to 17 December 2025. Under the motto “Bringing science to life where people spend their everyday lives ”, the HZI is presenting an interactive exhibition, hands-on stations, offers for school classes in cooperation with the BioS school laboratory and exciting after-work talks with experts from the HZI in the science showcase ("Wissenschaftsschaufenster") at Waisenhausdamm 8.

20.11.2025

HZI Campus

Group picture of 6 people with an oversized cheque

News

A novel oral immunotherapy for cancer and a drug for treating chronic liver fibrosis: What many patients are hoping for is already a part of cutting-edge research in Lower Saxony. To ensure that such innovative ideas are translated into practical applications more quickly, the state of Lower Saxony is funding particularly promising projects: “Citrapeutics” from the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and “RNA Healer” from the Hannover Medical School (MHH) will receive a total of nearly €2.5 million in funding from the Institute for Biomedical Translation (IBT) Lower Saxony to spur their innovations.

19.11.2025

TWINCORE

HZI Campus

HZI in the media

... validierte Daten der MHH und des Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI), die zeitnah in Fachjournalen veröffentlichet ...

19.01.2026

wallstreet:online

Lange , Kommissarische Leiterin der Abteilung Epidemiologie am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI), Braunschweig, gegenüber dem

16.01.2026

Medscape

... maßgeblich vorantreiben. In Zusammenarbeit mit dem Braunschweiger Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) und der Utah State ...

16.01.2026

IT Boltwise

... Deutschen Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen, am Helmholtz-Zentrum für Infektionsforschung und am Max-Delbrück-Centrum für ...

16.01.2026

Handelsblatt

Das interdisziplinäre Team aus TWINCORE , Helmholtz Zentrum für Infektionsforschung (HZI) und der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover ( ...

15.01.2026

Arzt & Wirtschaft

Manche fordern Placebo-kontrollierte Vergleiche von Geimpften und Ungeimpften, um die Sicherheit der Masern-Impfung zu testen. ...

15.01.2026

BR Bayerischer Rundfunk

... können wir Pandemien früh erkennen? Forschende des Helmholtz‑Instituts für One Health zeigen, warum Mensch, ...

13.01.2026

Deutsche Welle

... gewinnbringend eingesetzt werden. Das HIPS ist ein Standort des Helmholtz-Zentrums für Infektionsforschung (HZI) in Zusammenarbeit ...

13.01.2026

juraforum.de

... nach SARS-CoV-2, sagt Fabian Leendertz. Er ist Direktor des Helmholtz-Instituts für One Health (HIOH) in ...

13.01.2026

Deutsche Welle

from the University Hospital Würzburg (UKW), the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI), and University of Münster. The

12.01.2026

MSN.com

... des Universitätsklinikums Würzburg (UKW), des Helmholtz-Instituts für RNA-basierte Infektionsforschung (HIRI) und der Universität ...

12.01.2026

Biermann Medizin

... potential pandemics early on? Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute for One Health are showing why ...

12.01.2026

Deutsche Welle

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