Discover HIRI
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: 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 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, expected by the beginning of 2026, 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: 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: 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 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, expected by the beginning of 2026, 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.
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
More about 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
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