| Leibniz Collaborative Excellence |
Investigating the malaria-driven autoimmune imprint of humoral immunity
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Dr. Christine S. Hopp |
2026
|
2028
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BNITM
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Section C - Life Sciences
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Malaria, an infectious disease caused by the parasite Plasmodium, causes over half a million deaths annually and has been one of the strongest forces shaping human evolution. Recent results from the project leader show a surprising finding: children with high levels of autoantibodies (antibodies recognizing our own cellular structures) are significantly less likely to develop clinical malaria. This suggests that a genetic tendency toward autoimmunity may have evolved as a survival advantage against malaria. Autoimmunity refers to an often pathological reaction of the immune system to the body's own antigens. The high risk – high gain project explores whether protective immune responses against malaria depend on controlled self-reactivity. If so, this suggests that natural mechanisms preventing autoimmunity may limit malaria-immunity. By comparing immune responses in malaria-exposed individuals, using field studies in Africa and autoimmune disease patients in Germany, using cutting-edge immunology, this project aims to identify new paths towards more effective malaria vaccines.
External Cooperation Partners: University of Oslo, Norway; Ehime University, Japan; Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf; University of Louisville, USA; Parasites & Microbes Research & Training Center, Bamako, Mali; National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, North Bethesda (Maryland), USA; Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, Ghana
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| Leibniz Collaborative Excellence |
Climate resilience, and climate vulnerabilities, of mating behaviours in mosquitoes
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Dr. Renke Lühken |
2025
|
2027
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BNITM
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Section C - Life Sciences
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Within the numerous uncertainties regarding global climate change, one thing is clear: the biogeographic distributions of numerous animals will change. For example, humans will move into areas affected by mosquito-borne disease and mosquitoes will invade areas which have previously been spared their menace, such as large parts of Europe. Understanding if – and how – mosquitoes adapt to new environments is vital not only to forecast the ‘threat of invasion’ for a given area, but also to design novel mosquito control tools. This high risk – high gain project will therefore explore the temperature resilience, and vulnerabilities, of mating behavior in four mosquito vector species. If successful, this could lead to acoustics-based means to monitor and control mosquito vectors. External cooperation partner: Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg
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| Leibniz-Labs |
Pandemic Preparedness
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Prof. Dr. Gülsah Gabriel |
2024
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2027
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ARL,
ATB,
BNITM,
DIE,
DIPF,
DIW,
DPZ,
DRFZ,
DSMZ,
DWI,
FBH,
FLI,
FMP,
FZB,
HKI,
IGB,
IHP,
INM,
INP,
IPB,
IPHT,
IPN,
ISAS,
IUF,
IWM,
IfADo,
IfW Kiel,
IÖR,
LIB (formerly ZFMK),
LIN (formerly IfN),
LIR,
LIT,
LIV (formerly HPI),
LSB (formerly DFA),
MfN,
PRIF (formerly HSFK),
RWI,
SGN,
TROPOS (formerly IfT),
ZEW,
ZPID
|
Section B - Economics, Social Sciences, Spatial Research,
Section E - Environmental Research,
Section D - Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Engineering,
Section C - Life Sciences,
Section A - Humanities and Educational Research
|
The Leibniz Lab focuses on preparing for future pandemics by pooling the expertise of 41 Leibniz institutions. It works in four key areas: The interaction of the environment, animals and humans in relation to the emergence and spread of pathogens, reduction of physical and mental disease burden, efficient pandemic management and improving the resilience of educational systems in pandemic situations. A multi-perspective focus creates a dynamic think tank that complements other clinical and infection control initiatives and supports stakeholders from politics and society in formulating evidence-based action plans. New respiratory pathogens are considered candidates for the next pandemic. The Leibniz Lab is therefore investigating, among other things, the potential of alternative forms of animal husbandry to reduce the risk of their transmission from animals to humans. It is also examining the existing immunity to these pathogens in the population and the mechanisms that favor severe courses of disease. The lab is using this knowledge to make urban areas and national healthcare systems more resilient to pandemics and to better support students and teachers during pandemics. Furthermore, the experts are developing strategies for effective international cooperation in preparing for and responding to future pandemics.
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| Leibniz ScienceCampi |
Integrative Analysis of Pathogen-Induced Compartments (funding phase 2)
|
Prof. Dr. Kay Grünewald |
2023
|
|
BNITM,
FZB,
LIV (formerly HPI)
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Section C - Life Sciences
|
The Leibniz ScienceCampus „InterACt“ investigates the interaction between pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites and the affected host. During the cellular infection cycle, pathogens use the existing reaction spaces of the host or create new ones. These reaction spaces or „compartments“ protect the pathogens from the host's defenses and concentrate factors that contribute to the pathogen's multiplication. The dynamics, structure and function of these diverse reaction spaces is extremely complex and can only be analysed and understood in situ.
The Leibniz ScienceCampus has state-of-the-art imaging techniques at its disposal to analyse these processes. The resulting complex datasets are supplemented with data from complementary methods and integratively merged. The novel insights gained into pathogen compartments will ultimately help enable the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches. InterACt provides the platform for combining Hamburg's expertise in the fields of infection, structural and systems biology with in situ imaging and bioinformatics methods. External cooperation partners: University of Hamburg (UHH); University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE); Centre for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB); The Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg
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| Leibniz Transfer funding programme |
Novel ultrafast and versatile two photon excitation microscope for imaging of BSL3 pathogens
|
Dr. Roland Thünauer |
2022
|
2024
|
BNITM,
HKI,
LIV (formerly HPI)
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Section C - Life Sciences
|
Multiphoton microscopy led to a breakthrough in imaging of living organisms by providing enhanced penetration depth into tissue and high three-dimensional resolution. Multiphoton microscopes allow for example the investigation of infection processes in living organisms in real time, which is extremely useful for biomedical research. Currently available multiphoton microscopes require time-consuming maintenance, which makes their operation in laboratories of higher biosafety levels difficult. This transfer project will develop an ultrafast two photon excitation microscope that is optimized for biosafety level 3 (BSL3) labs. This will advance studies of highly infectious pathogens and therefore lead to important new discoveries and potential treatment options. External cooperation partners: Universität zu Lübeck; Medizinisches Laserzentrum Lübeck GmbH
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| Leibniz Collaborative Excellence |
Functional architecture of the nucleus of malaria parasites
|
Dr. Tobias Spielmann |
2021
|
2023
|
BNITM
|
Section C - Life Sciences
|
With around 200 million cases each year, malaria is one of the most common infectious diseases in the world. The symptoms, which include high, recurrent (remittent) fever, chills, gastrointestinal complaints and cramps, are caused by single-celled parasites that enter the human body through mosquito bites. The team wants to understand the structure of the parasite, in particular the architecture of the cell nucleus, the organism’s 'control room'. The findings from this research that will be gained from the study of living malaria parasites, is expected to significantly increase our understanding of this disease, with a view to future therapeutic approaches. External cooperation partner: Radboud University Nijmegen
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| Leibniz Junior Research Groups |
Neuropathology of Lassa fever NEULA
|
Dr. Till Omansen |
2021
|
2025
|
BNITM
|
Section C - Life Sciences
|
In West Africa, hundreds of thousands of people are infected with the Lassa virus every year. In some patients life-threatening courses of the disease occur. So far little is known about the exact cause of these severe disease courses. There is currently no approved treatment and no vaccine. The junior research group led by medical doctor/clinician Dr Till Omansen will be performing clinical studies with patients in Nigeria, as well as laboratory experiments at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine in Hamburg. The researchers hope to gain important insights into the pathology of the disease for the diagnosis and treatment of Lassa fever.
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| Leibniz Programme for Women Professors |
Behavioural Insights Research Center on Preventive Health
|
Prof. Dr. Cornelia Betsch |
2021
|
2026
|
BNITM
|
Section C - Life Sciences
|
The project will focus on interdisciplinary basic and applied research in behavioral science and psychological health communication, with the aim of developing interventions and strategies to improve preventive health behaviors. Based at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, the project collects and compares data in different cultural contexts, including with partners on the African continent. The three main topics being addressed are understanding protective behavior regarding infectious diseases, prudent use of antibiotics and promoting sustainable food and nutrition behaviors. The results are expected to help improve health policies and health communication.
Cooperating university: Universität Erfurt
|
| Leibniz Research Alliances |
Leibniz Research Alliance Infections in an Urbanizing World – Humans, Animals, Environments
|
Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schaible |
2021
|
2025
|
ATB,
BNITM,
DPZ,
DSMZ,
FZB,
GESIS,
GIGA (formerly DÜI),
HKI,
IGB,
IPHT,
ISAS,
IZW,
IfW Kiel,
IÖR,
LIV (formerly HPI),
PIK,
TROPOS (formerly IfT),
ZALF
|
Section B - Economics, Social Sciences, Spatial Research,
Section C - Life Sciences,
Section D - Mathematics, Natural Sciences, Engineering,
Section E - Environmental Research
|
Improved hygiene and better prevention and treatment have diminished the incidence of infectious diseases particularly in industrialised countries. However, increasing antibiotic resistance, emergence of new pathogens, together with changes in pathogen distribution due to altered climate and mobility are global challenges for humankind. Infectious diseases can be spread and transferred to humans in many ways. A holistic approach is required to better understand transmission and to achieve optimal infection control strategies. Biomedical, ecological, socio-economic and political aspects all need to be considered. The Leibniz Research Alliance “INFECTIONS in an Urbanizing World" aims to establish an interdisciplinary research agenda and opens up new avenues of communication across disciplines. New strategies and methods for early warning and outbreak management systems will be developed to control spread of pathogens. This effort will also include public involvement through citizen science projects.
External cooperation partners: Externe Kooperationspartner: Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut Bundesforschungsinstitut für Tiergesundheit, Greifswald - Insel Riems; Robert Koch-Institut, Berlin; Tiermedizinisches Zentrum für Resistenzforschung, FU Berlin
|
| Leibniz Junior Research Groups |
Pathological host responses to Lassa virus infection - from mice to man
|
Dr. Lisa Oestereich |
2019
|
2023
|
BNITM
|
Section C - Life Sciences
|
Lassa virus is a virus spread by rodents that is endemic in several West African countries and causes annual outbreaks of Lassa fever with a high fatality rate. Dr Lisa Oestereich and her research group are studying the virus. In her previous work, she developed a mouse model that simulates key features of Lassa fever in humans. The model makes it possible, for the first time, to carry out mechanistic studies of the host response to the virus. In addition to the molecular immunological studies with the mouse model, the project will also conduct clinical trials in Nigeria. In this way, it will make a contribution to the development of medical countermeasures.
|
| Leibniz ScienceCampi |
Integrative analysis of pathogen-induced compartments (InterACt) - Leibniz-WissenschaftsCampus Hamburg (funding phase 1)
|
Prof. Dr. Kay Grünewald |
2019
|
2023
|
BNITM,
FZB,
LIV (formerly HPI)
|
Section C - Life Sciences
|
The Leibniz ScienceCampus „InterACt“ investigates the interaction between pathogens such as viruses, bacteria and parasites and the affected host. During the cellular infection cycle, pathogens use the existing reaction spaces of the host or create new ones. These reaction spaces or „compartments“ protect the pathogens from the host's defenses and concentrate factors that contribute to the pathogen's multiplication. The dynamics, structure and function of these diverse reaction spaces is extremely complex and can only be analysed and understood in situ.
The Leibniz ScienceCampus has state-of-the-art imaging techniques at its disposal to analyse these processes. The resulting complex datasets are supplemented with data from complementary methods and integratively merged. The novel insights gained into pathogen compartments will ultimately help enable the discovery of innovative therapeutic approaches. InterACt provides the platform for combining Hamburg's expertise in the fields of infection, structural and systems biology with in situ imaging and bioinformatics methods. External cooperation partners: Universität Hamburg (UHH); Universitätsklinikum Hamburg Eppendorf (UKE). // additional project managers: Dr. Ronja Markworth
|
| Leibniz Transfer funding programme |
ParasiteWeb: A web-based platform for training and quality management of microscopic parasite diagnostics
|
Prof. Dr. Egbert Tannich |
2019
|
2023
|
BNITM
|
Section C - Life Sciences
|
The project will develop an innovative web-based platform for interactive training and quality management relating to the microscopic diagnosis of parasites in clinical samples. Clinical samples will be digitised and high-quality images of parasites will be presented to allow realistic simulation of microscopic analyses. The aim is to enable reliable, low-cost diagnosis of parasitic diseases like malaria and bilharzia.
|
| Leibniz Collaborative Excellence |
Structures of Viral Proteins Essential for Replication and Transcription
|
Prof. Dr. Stephan Günther |
2018
|
2023
|
BNITM
|
Section C - Life Sciences
|
In 2016, the World Health Organization initiated the R&D Blueprint as a global strategy to enhance preparedness to future epidemics. It is to focus R&D on under-researched pathogens with epidemic potential for which there are no, or insufficient, countermeasures. The Blueprint list includes several negative-strand RNA viruses (NSV) such as Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus, Ebola and Marburg disease virus, Lassa fever virus, Nipah virus, and Rift Valley fever virus. They occur in Low and Middle Income Countries and outbreaks have devastating consequences to their society and economy. A major gap in knowledge is the structure and function of the replication machinery of these viruses. A key component is the large (200-250 kDa) L protein (polymerase), an attractive drug target harbouring several enzymatic activities essential for virus replication. Our aim is to produce ultra-pure full-length L proteins of NSV prioritized by the Blueprint, characterize their enzymatic activities, and solve their atomic structures using a range of innovative technologies. This collaborative project involves three excellent partners with complementary expertise in tropical virology, biochemistry, X-ray crystallography, and cryo electron tomography. The integrative approach will yield structural data and technological platforms that will greatly facilitate the future development of drugs against human-pathogenic RNA viruses. External cooperation partners: HPI; Outstation of the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL)
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| Leibniz Programme for Women Professors |
Structure-based drug discovery of antivirals - targeting bunyavirus L protein
|
Prof. Dr. Maria Rosenthal |
|
|
BNITM
|
Section C - Life Sciences
|
For the development of therapeutics against medically highly relevant bunyaviruses, we need to understand the molecular details of these viruses to allow us to identify the most promising targets. The project leader has achieved several milestones in the past years towards this goal. During her project in the Leibniz Programme for Women Professors she will leverage these recent molecular insights as well as her expertise in assay development and 3D analysis of viral components, to target the multifunctional polymerase protein of bunyaviruses. In a strong partnership with the Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology, different essential functions and components of the virus will be evaluated to design novel antiviral strategies.
Cooperating university: Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf
|