Discover HIRI
HIRI Spotlights: The Single-Cell Center Würzburg
Whether in an organ or a sore, pathogens often hide in just a few of a patient's trillion cells. Detecting such problematic cells very early and with high precision through single-cell sequencing creates new opportunities for medical diagnostics, screening and therapy.
Single-cell research paves the way for future precision medicine. From infectious diseases to cancer to neurodegenerative or cardiovascular diseases:
Imagine if one day you could effectively prepare yourself against an emerging disease well before the onset, before the first symptoms – and perhaps avoid irreversible consequences?
HIRI Spotlights: HIRI is getting a new building
It is still a building site on the Würzburg medical campus. However, the preparatory construction work is already in full swing.
After its completion, the new HIRI institute building will offer optimal conditions for accommodating around 120 researchers on approximately 4,200 square meters of floor space.
A modern infrastructure will be created with laboratories, seminar and meeting rooms, as well as numerous open communication and work areas to facilitate scientific exchange.
HIRI Spotlights: A unique graduate training program
The Graduate Training Program at HIRI is unique. Prospective students do not apply for a specific lab and a predetermined topic, as is the case with other programs.
Instead, successful applicants are first exposed to three different laboratories at HIRI. During this rotation phase, our research groups compete for the PhD students before the latter decide on their desired lab.
In close cooperation with the group leaders, the PhD students are then expected to define their PhD topic independently.
HIRI Spotlights: HIRI AND THE FIGHT AGAINST SARS-COV-2
With the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, HIRI immediately began researching the process of infection and disease development.
HIRI scientists are looking for potential weaknesses where either infection can be prevented or stopped at an early stage. Their ultimate goal is to develop drugs for this and future pandemics.
The HIRI has made major contributions already to a better understanding of how the virus multiplies in the host and interacts with the cells it infects.
HIRI Spotlights: The Single-Cell Center Würzburg
Whether in an organ or a sore, pathogens often hide in just a few of a patient's trillion cells. Detecting such problematic cells very early and with high precision through single-cell sequencing creates new opportunities for medical diagnostics, screening and therapy.
Single-cell research paves the way for future precision medicine. From infectious diseases to cancer to neurodegenerative or cardiovascular diseases:
Imagine if one day you could effectively prepare yourself against an emerging disease well before the onset, before the first symptoms – and perhaps avoid irreversible consequences?
HIRI Spotlights: HIRI is getting a new building
It is still a building site on the Würzburg medical campus. However, the preparatory construction work is already in full swing.
After its completion, the new HIRI institute building will offer optimal conditions for accommodating around 120 researchers on approximately 4,200 square meters of floor space.
A modern infrastructure will be created with laboratories, seminar and meeting rooms, as well as numerous open communication and work areas to facilitate scientific exchange.
HIRI Spotlights: A unique graduate training program
The Graduate Training Program at HIRI is unique. Prospective students do not apply for a specific lab and a predetermined topic, as is the case with other programs.
Instead, successful applicants are first exposed to three different laboratories at HIRI. During this rotation phase, our research groups compete for the PhD students before the latter decide on their desired lab.
In close cooperation with the group leaders, the PhD students are then expected to define their PhD topic independently.
HIRI Spotlights: HIRI AND THE FIGHT AGAINST SARS-COV-2
With the outbreak of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, HIRI immediately began researching the process of infection and disease development.
HIRI scientists are looking for potential weaknesses where either infection can be prevented or stopped at an early stage. Their ultimate goal is to develop drugs for this and future pandemics.
The HIRI has made major contributions already to a better understanding of how the virus multiplies in the host and interacts with the cells it infects.
Research Groups at HIRI
Our international team collaborates closely within the institute, as well as with scientists abroad and at its parental institutions, to jointly advance our knowledge at the interface of RNA and infection.
RNA Biology of Bacterial Infections
Prof Jörg Vogel
RNA Synthetic Biology
Prof Chase Beisel
Recoding Mechanisms in Infections
Jun Prof Neva Caliskan
Integrative Informatics for Infection Biology
Jun Prof Lars Barquist
LncRNA and Infection Biology
Jun Prof Mathias Munschauer
Single-cell Analysis
Dr Antoine-Emmanuel Saliba
Genome Architecture and Evolution of RNA viruses
Jun Prof Redmond Smyth
Host-pathogen-microbiota interactions
Jun Prof Alexander Westermann
RNA Biology of gram-positive Bacteria (associated research group)
Jun Prof Franziska Faber
HIRI at a Glance
HZI + JMU = HIRI
- Foundation May 2017.
- Site of the Braunschweig Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in cooperation with the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU).
Managing Director
- Prof Jörg Vogel.
- Director since 2017.
- Also Director and Full Professor at the Institute for Molecular Infection Biology, JMU Würzburg.
Team
- 8 research groups.
- 1 associated research group.
- More than 100 employees.
- From more than 20 nations.
Funding
- Sound annual core funding from federal government and Free State of Bavaria.
- Third party funding rate of 30%.
- 4 ERC Grants.
New Building
- State-of-the-art facilities.
- Financed by Free State of Bavaria and EU.
- Start of construction in 2023.
Profile Areas & Programs
- Single-Cell Center Würzburg.
- Graduate Training Programs „RNA & Infection“ and "RNAmed - Future Leaders in RNA-based Medicine".
More about the HIRI
“RNA is a powerful medium for engineering biology. We seek to better understand the fundamental properties of this biomolecule and how it can be harnessed to improve diagnosis and treatment of human infections.”
Chase Beisel
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to enquire about job offers, ask scientific questions or simply pay us a visit, you find all necessary information on this page. We look forward to your email, call or visit!