From smallest to largest 16.05.2023 At the HIRI, PhD student Chia studies non-coding RNAs at the single-cell level. While her research is all about single cells, she focuses on the big picture in her spare time.
From Fusobacteria to gene scissors 13.05.2023 HZI Paper of the Month Award for Falk Ponath and Elena Vialetto
Spotlight on single cells 05.05.2023 Fascinating insights into single-cell RNA sequencing at the Single-Cell Center Mini-Retreat
Just appointed 01.05.2023 Single-cell researcher Emmanuel Saliba becomes Associate Professor as of today
The folding is the key 27.04.2023 Researchers at the Helmholtz Institute Würzburg discover potential new antiviral targets in HIV-1
Dissecting viral RNA bound protein complexes 11.04.2023 Ameya Sinha receives HFSP Long-Term Fellowship
HZI Administrative Director pays a visit to the HIRI 05.04.2023 Christian Scherf tours the Würzburg site
Jörg Vogel elected to the Bavarian Academy of Sciences and Humanities 29.03.2023 Director of the Helmholtz Institute Würzburg to receive certificate in Munich in May
Decoding SARS-CoV-2 23.03.2023 Researchers from the Helmholtz Institute Würzburg unveiled the interplay of RNA structures during the translation of the SARS-CoV-2 genome
Curiosity as a driving force 16.03.2023 Since 2021, Hoda has been a PhD student in HIRI's graduate program “RNA & Infection”. Her research focuses on bacterial sRNAs and their role in host-microbe interactions.
Deeper insights into bacteria 08.03.2023 Würzburg researchers improve single-cell RNA sequencing technologies
Computers and labs go hand in hand 01.03.2023 Shuba Varshini has learnt that biotechnology and bioinformatics are a team. One cannot get far without the other.
RNA Society Spotlights HIRI Director 23.02.2023 This month, the RNA Society profiled Jörg Vogel. Read about his career path, his advice on how to succeed in science, and his favorite RNA
Impressions of the New Year’s Reception 16.02.2023 HIRI Director Jörg Vogel reflected on the highlights of 2022 and looked ahead to what 2023 has in store for the institute.
When editing bacteria with CRISPR, less is more 09.02.2023 Systematically attenuating DNA targeting activity can achieve CRISPR-driven editing in bacteria
Funding worth millions goes to Wurzburg 30.01.2023 With JMU participation: Research network on RNA medicine receives financial support
Medical diagnostics of the future 10.01.2023 Interrogating disease progression and cell processes with TIGER: in vivo and non-invasively
Like a Swiss army knife 04.01.2023 Researchers from Würzburg and the U.S. discover new type of CRISPR gene scissors
Falk Ponath successfully defended his dissertation 21.12.2022 Investigating the molecular biology of Fusobacterium nucleatum
At the interface of viral infections and RNA 20.12.2022 Hailing from a town near Munich, Sebastian has been a PhD student at HIRI since 2020. In the HIRI graduate program, he pursues his two primary research interests: viruses and…
Liqing Ye successfully defended her dissertation 01.12.2022 Doctoral defense on “RNA-RNA interactions in viral genome packaging”
Visit by Würzburg’s mayor Judith Jörg to HIRI 29.11.2022 Insights into the institute’s cutting-edge research
HIRI meets HIPS 28.11.2022 HIRI group leaders had a meeting at the HIRI sister institute HIPS. They returned with lots of new collaboration ideas for RNA targeting and protein engineering to tackle…
Reconciling science and family 28.11.2022 Helmholtz Institute Würzburg launches day care for children in cooperation with the city of Würzburg
New Collaborative Research Center 25.11.2022 With the participation of HIRI, a new collaborative research center is being launched in Würzburg.
Frequently quoted: RNA Researcher Jörg Vogel 15.11.2022 HIRI Director again honored as Highly Cited Researcher
Getting to the core of viral propagation tricks 11.11.2022 Neva Caliskan and the Achilles' heel of viruses
Honorary Doctorate for Dirk Heinz 08.11.2022 The Faculty of Medicine has awarded Professor Dirk Heinz an honorary doctorate – for his outstanding achievements in the fields of structural biology and infection research as…
New review article 07.11.2022 HIRI scientists discuss recent developments in transcriptome analysis of bacteria
Fusobacteria and Cancer 03.11.2022 New study on Fusobacterium nucleatum: Why does the oral cavity germ colonize and accelerate tumors?
1.5 million euros for the development of new antiviral agents 26.10.2022 HIRI researchers receive funding from the German Federal Agency SPRIND
PhD Thesis Successfully Defended 19.10.2022 Doctoral defense by Chunlei Jiao on "Reprogramming tracrRNAs for RNA detection and recording"
Gene activity in a test tube 14.10.2022 When searching for the causes of illnesses and developing new treatments, it is absolutely vital to have a precise understanding of the genetic fundamentals. Würzburg…
Commander in the cell's production room 14.10.2022 How do cells manage to quickly adapt their growth to changing environmental conditions? A new study (published in "Cell Reports") provides an answer to this question.
Pettenkofer Prize awarded to Chase Beisel and Cynthia Sharma 07.10.2022 Foundation recognizes innovative diagnostic platform LEOPARD
Not just delivering results, but understanding things 05.10.2022 Why do young people from all over the world decide to start a career in science in Würzburg?
German radio program “Radio Eins” features Jörg Vogel 19.09.2022 The HIRI director explains how researchers at HIRI and FLI were able to create the first comprehensive map of bat blood.
Two new “RNA & Infection” PhD students just started 16.09.2022 Janet Schneider and Chia-Ling Chou join HIRI’s graduate program
Change with age: as bats mature their immune cells differ 06.09.2022 Cell Reports: Study by FLI and HIRI unveils complexity of leukocytes in Egyptian fruit bat and its imprinting by age
All things CRISPR 25.08.2022 Adini Arifah has been a PhD student in HIRI’s graduate program since 2021. In her research, she has devoted herself to the CRISPR-Cas gene scissors.
New Players in the Immune Response 23.08.2022 Lymph nodes differ in the composition of T cells and trigger different immune responses (new "Immunity" paper)
New agents to combat a dangerous pathogen 23.08.2022 News from HIRI Affiliates: JMU researchers are working on the development of new drugs to combat poxviruses.
The viral construction kit 10.08.2022 Redmond Smyth aims to discover how RNA viruses replicate and evolve
German podcast “Box & Beutel” features Neva Caliskan 02.08.2022 The HIRI research group leader talks about her career, her adopted home of Würzburg and her research.
How to map infections 26.07.2022 Mathias Munschauer investigates the interaction between host cells and viruses
“We are pioneers” 22.07.2022 Jörg Vogel is the director of the HIRI. In his leisure time, the biochemist enjoys traveling, reading contemporary literature and spending time with his family. An interview
An anti-bacterial liaison 21.07.2022 How communication between lysosomes and mitochondria controls Salmonella growth in macrophages
A good gut feeling 13.07.2022 Alexander Westermann explores new avenues to treat and prevent intestinal infections
Science without borders 07.07.2022 French-born Christophe Toussaint joined HIRI's graduate training program “RNA & Infection” in 2019. In science, crossing borders is essential.
A very special molecule: RNA 05.07.2022 Ribonucleic acid is a jack-of-all-trades. It's time to finally give it the floor...
52,000 euros from the German Research Foundation 04.07.2022 Ahsen Özcan receives start-up funding for postdocs
RNA Society spotlights HIRI PhD student 30.06.2022 Anuja Kibe was recently profiled in the RNA Society’s Member Spotlight Series, which seeks to recognize the accomplishments of its members.
Precision antibacterials 28.06.2022 Similar to the vaccines against the coronavirus, RNA-based antibiotics could significantly improve modern medicine. Research teams from Würzburg have investigated the…
RNA Lightning Talk Awards: first place for Anuja Kibe 15.06.2022 Member of the Caliskan group has just been awarded
New “decision aid” for CRISPR immune responses 13.06.2022 HIRI scientists show that target RNA levels influence defense against invaders
Fusobacteria and cancer 08.06.2022 Vogel Foundation is supporting a new research project at the Würzburg Helmholtz Institute / Eckernkamp fellow starts work
A precision cut for the CRISPR-Cas genetic scissors 31.05.2022 A new study published in "Molecular Cell" indicates how deep learning can improve gene therapies and antiviral drugs.
The fifth anniversary of HIRI 10.05.2022 The Helmholtz Institute Würzburg celebrates its birthday – and reflects on its many achievements to date
Single-Cell Center Würzburg: Website just launched 20.04.2022 To introduce the work of the new Single-Cell Center, HIRI has created a website that can be found at www.single-cell-center.de.
Growing bacteria to combat them 01.04.2022 4 million euros funding for international project on urinary tract infections
Fourth ERC Grant awarded to HIRI 29.03.2022 1.5 million euros for research on human intestinal bacteria
In search for new antiviral therapies: Uncovering the HIV life cycle 28.03.2022 Study published today in "Nature Structural & Molecular Biology"
New CRISPR element regulates viral defense 21.03.2022 Mechanism for prioritizing the immune response discovered.
A great interest in small things 01.03.2022 Marco Olguín joined HIRI in 2020. As a participant of HIRI's graduate program, he is researching viruses. Even in his spare time, Marco is often focused on details.
A boost for CRISPR research 24.02.2022 PAM-DETECT enables faster characterization of CRISPR immune systems / Study published in "Molecular Cell"
German TV show "scobel" features Jörg Vogel 04.02.2022 Watch the broadcast about the mRNA revolution in the media library of the channel “3sat”
A sponge playing in defence 03.02.2022 Researchers from Würzburg discovered a new trick bacteria use to adapt optimally to a given environment.
Insights into cutting-edge research on SARS-CoV-2 13.01.2022 State Minister Bernd Sibler on research visit to Würzburg
Research on SARS-CoV-2: FOR-COVID to receive fresh funding 11.01.2022 The Free State of Bavaria is funding the collaborative research project for another three years.
Prestigious ERC Starting Grant awarded to HIRI 10.01.2022 1.5 million euros for research on SARS-CoV-2
The ambivalent role of Bacteroides in enteric infections 05.01.2022 In "Trends in Microbiology", Alexander Westermann and Elise Bornet discuss the interplay of these gut bacteria with the intestinal immune system and invading pathogens.
Grant of 90,000 euros 20.12.2021 HIRI and Vogel Stiftung Würzburg launch second funding period of their fellowship program
Three million euros for RNA-based medicine 17.12.2021 New international PhD program receives funding from "Bavarian Elite Network" initiative
Flipping a molecular switch 14.12.2021 HIRI and University of Cambridge shed light onto an essential protein-assisted genetic switch in Cardioviruses / Study published in "Nature Communications"
Silver linings in the pandemic 10.12.2021 Protein ZAP inhibits multiplication of SARS-CoV-2 by 20-fold / Study published in "Nature Communications"
Eerie Experience with Happy Ending 06.12.2021 Brazilian-born Taís Franco de Carvalho started in HIRI’s graduate training program, “RNA & Infection” this year. Her journey to Würzburg? A trip with obstacles.
COVID-19-related respiratory failure: Why patients require prolonged ventilation 30.11.2021 Study published in "Cell" shows extensive lung scarring caused by misguided immune response
Frequently quoted: HIRI Director Jörg Vogel 16.11.2021 Würzburg biochemist and Leibniz Laureate again honored as Highly Cited Researcher
Mission: Accepted 09.11.2021 700,000 euros for the development of new antiviral agents / Research network led by HIRI receives innovation funding from the German Federal Agency SPRIND
BMBF funding "GO-Bio": HIRI receives up to 733,000 euros 29.10.2021 Grant is dedicated to the pre-commercial development of LEOPARD, a new diagnostic technology
Breaking the Wall to Information-rich Diagnostics (Video) 18.10.2021 Cynthia Sharma and Chase Beisel on revolutionizing medical diagnostics using the LEOPARD platform (external link)
ZONTA Science Award 2021 goes to Neva Caliskan 15.10.2021 HIRI researcher was honored for her excellent scientific achievements and for her special commitment
How Poxviruses Multiply 23.09.2021 News from HIRI Affiliates: JMU researchers have for the first time been able to watch the polymerase of vaccinia viruses doing their work at an atomic level.
Exploring the invisible world that surrounds us 16.09.2021 Introducing biotechnologist Elise Bornet, a PhD student in HIRI’s graduate training program, “RNA & Infection”. An interview
HIRI and JMU honored for pioneering work in medical diagnostics 10.09.2021 "Falling Walls" 2021: Chase Beisel and Cynthia Sharma awarded in life sciences category
Comparative genomics provides insights into the RNA biology of anaerobic gut bacteria 24.08.2021 Recent paper published in Molecular Microbiology
Oral microbe that speeds up the growth of cancer cells 30.07.2021 HIRI and JMU Würzburg create first RNA atlas of Fusobacterium nucleatum (Publication: Nature Microbiology)
DFG funding: 830,000 euros for research in Würzburg 27.07.2021 Three proposals on the topic of phages successful
Visit by members of parliament to HIRI 09.07.2021 SPD parliamentary group on research visit to Würzburg
Preparations for the new HIRI building 06.05.2021 Demolition of former urology building has just begun
CRISPR discovery from Würzburg paves the way for novel COVID testing method 27.04.2021 LEOPARD has the potential to revolutionize diagnostics (Publication: Science)
Würzburg researchers track down resistance in CAR-T cell therapy 11.03.2021 Therapeutically modified white blood cells hold great potential in the treatment of multiple myeloma, a malignant cancer of the bone marrow. However, they can lead to serious…
New Review on Cross-species RNA-seq for deciphering host–microbe interactions 25.02.2021 HIRI’s Jörg Vogel and Alexander Westermann provide a comprehensive review on the past, present and future of RNA-sequencing in the context of infections. The review was…
Britta Grigull takes over Press and Public Relations at HIRI 28.01.2021 Britta Grigull, Head of Marketing and Spokesperson for the designated Würzburg State Theater, will take over the PR work of the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection…
Corona: How the virus interacts with cells 21.12.2020 Scientists from Würzburg and the US have charted the first global atlas of direct interactions between SARS-CoV-2 RNA and human host cells. This may provide a starting point…
New Salmonella Proteins Discovered 17.12.2020 Only one small protein needs to be missing and salmonellae are no longer infectious. This was discovered in a study in which the pathogens were re-analysed using…
Jörg Vogel again honoured as “Highly Cited Researcher” 02.12.2020 HIRI director is one of the world's best in the research field microbiology
Coinfection: More than the sum of its parts 18.11.2020 HIRI researchers and partners establish new technology to unravel genetic changes during infection with two different pathogens
Jörg Vogel announced as new president of the European Academy of Microbiology 17.11.2020 Vogel's appointment is the result of his contributions to the discipline of microbiology, notably as a pioneer in the field of non-coding RNA in bacteria in the context of…
Registration now open for RNA Biology Course - Fall 2020 29.10.2020 This 5-day course is tailored for students interested in RNA biology. Young scientists from Würzburg and elsewhere are welcome to attend.
Identifying new PAM sequences to sharpen the CRISPR/Cas genetic scissors 27.10.2020 HIRI researchers describe in Science Advances how they uncovered new PAM sequences that can be applied to sharpen the precision of CRISPR genome editing technologies.
ERC Starting Grant for Neva Caliskan 04.09.2020 HIRI junior professor to receive million-Euro funding from the European Research Council for her cutting-edge project "T-FRAME".
Leap forward in the fight against antibiotic resistance 18.08.2020 HIRI researchers succeed in deep sequencing RNA of single bacteria. The study was published in the journal Nature Microbiology
COVID-19: Immune system derails 06.08.2020 Nationwide research network with HIRI participation publishes current findings on COVID-19 in the journal Cell
Boarding completed – welcome “RNA & Infection” PhD students 2020 27.07.2020 We are happy to announce the arrival of all three additions to the HIRI Graduate Training program “RNA & Infection” at the institute!
RNA-protein interaction atlas of SARS-CoV-2 in infected human cells 20.07.2020 HIRI scientist Mathias Munschauer, together with colleagues of the JMU Würzburg and the Broad Institute (Cambridge, USA), develops the first global atlas of direct…
Exploring the RNA world of the microbiota 16.07.2020 In a recent publication in Nature Communications, HIRI researchers chart the transcriptome map of an anaerobic commensal
A peptide with antibiotic activity against drug-resistant bacteria 25.06.2020 HIRI’s Lars Barquist helps identify a novel antibiotic against multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria. The findings were just published in Nature Communications.
Small Protein, Big Impact 04.06.2020 In meningococci, the RNA-binding protein ProQ plays a major role. HIRI and JMU researchers show in Nature Communications that together with RNA molecules, it regulates…
POSTPONED: Microbiology 2020 - Single cell, microbiome & host 29.05.2020 This 2-day meeting, jointly organized by the science academies from France, Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom, is postponed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new…
Adding flexibility to CRISPR targets in the genome 06.05.2020 In a recent paper published in Nucleic Acids Research, HIRI researchers find natural ways to overcome limitations of the genome-editing tool.
Genome of the Herpes Virus Decoded 30.04.2020 HIRI affiliate Lars Dölken and colleagues have comprehensively decoded the genome of the herpes simplex virus 1 using new methods.
Joint research against the novel coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 21.04.2020 Press release by the Julius-Maximilians-University of Würzburg about the ongoing research efforts for a SARS-CoV-2 treatment at the HIRI.
Grad‐seq in respiratory pathogen reveals new player in competence control 07.04.2020 The latest publication by Jörg Vogel in the EMBO journal describes the identification of the RNA/protein complexome in the Gram-positive pathogen S. pneumoniae.
Programmable antibiotics to fight antimicrobial resistance 26.03.2020 With his latest review, Jörg Vogel honors the lifetime achievements of Pascale Cossart in this special issue of Molecular Microbiology.
Exhibition opening - HIRI meets Alkymi Materialbar 18.02.2020 Join us when art meets science. Historic lecture hall, 2nd floor, building D15, Josef-Schneider-Straße 2, 97080 Würzburg, 5PM.
Interrogating the biological fundamentals of CRISPR to better understand and treat infections 18.12.2019 ERC Consolidator Grant for HIRI researcher Chase Beisel
Virus multiplication in 3D 16.12.2019 HIRI affiliate Prof. Utz Fischer from the Biocenter of the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU) and colleagues from the the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Biophysical…
Predicting slippery spots for the ribosome 12.12.2019 Researchers from HIRI and the Max Planck Society develop a thermodynamic model to study frameshifting
Special presentation with expert discussion: HUMAN NATURE - The CRISPR Revolution 11.12.2019 Movie presentation followed by a discussion with HIRI scientists Jörg Vogel and Chase Beisel. At the Würzburg Biocenter (Lecture Hall A101) on December 11, 2019 at 5PM.
The first HIRI Science Slam on “RNA & Infection" 25.11.2019 Anuja Kibe, Phd Student in the research group of Neva Caliskan, won the first prize at the HIRI RNA & Infection Science Slam.
Large repertoire of new gene editors 22.11.2019 Researchers at HIRI and Duke University are using a previously unexplored class of the CRISPR-Cas system
Jörg Vogel again honoured as “Highly Cited Researcher” 19.11.2019 HIRI director is one of the world's best in the research field Microbiology
Beisel and Liao receive Paper of the month award for CRATES - a new tool to construct CRISPR arrays 07.11.2019 In Nature Communications, HIRI scientists Chase Beisel and Chunyu Liao describe a powerful means to assemble CRISPR arrays. CRATES enabled them to gain new insights into the…
Humboldt Fellow Peter Fineran visits HIRI 23.10.2019 Guest researcher from New Zealand studies CRISPR-Cas system in bacteria
RNA Seminar opening event: Anna Pyle & Gisela Storz 15.10.2019 The two leading female scientists in the field of RNA research will do us the honor of telling us about their work.
HIRI and JMU researchers visualize the battle between virus and host cells at the single-cell level 17.07.2019 Cells are equipped with multiple defense mechanisms to fight off intruders. Genes encode the building blocks of the response that must be activated during an enemy attack in…
New Helmholtz Young Investigator Group 01.07.2019 Dr Mathias Munschauer from the Broad Institute (USA) to join HIRI with his junior research group “LncRNA and Infection Biology”
A novel cellular model to study host-pathogen interactions 29.05.2019 HIRI group leader Alexander Westermann is co-author on a recent Frontiers in Microbiology publication.
Jörg Vogel receives Feldberg Prize 2019 22.01.2019 The Feldberg Prize for German-British Exchange in the Life Sciences 2019 goes to Prof. Jörg Vogel from Würzburg. As the foundation recently announced, Vogel on the German side…
Special presentation with expert discussion: HUMAN NATURE - The CRISPR Revolution (copy 1) 11.12.2018 Special movie presentation and subsequent discussion with HIRI scientists Jörg Vogel and Chase Beisel. At the Würzburg Biocenter (Lecture Hall A101) on December 11, 2019.
Staying a step ahead of the game 17.10.2018 Research team unravels trick with which the sleeping sickness pathogen hides from the immune system
How bacteria imprint the intestinal immune system in newborns 04.10.2018 HZI researchers discovered how early colonisation by microbes defines the properties of gut-draining lymph nodes for the lifetime of the host
Machine learning flags emerging pathogens 23.05.2018 A new machine learning tool could be useful for flagging dangerous bacteria before they cause an outbreak, from hospital wards to a global scale
New actors identified in atherosclerosis 22.03.2018 HIRI Scientist profile RNA to fingerprint individual cells
DNA scissors can cut RNA, too 01.03.2018 HIRI researchers discover further applications for Cas9 scissors