New findings on spinal muscular atrophy
Researchers investigate the impact on the immune system.
Infection research at the interface between clinical practice and basic research
TWINCORE was founded in 2008 by the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Hannover Medical School. We combine the expertise of medical professionals and scientists from a wide range of disciplines to find answers to the pressing questions in infection research. Our focus: translational research – the bridge between basic science and clinical application.
TWINCORE Symposium 2026
This year's TWINCORE Symposium
Pathways to infection resilience
will take place on 3 - 4 September.
Staying One Step Ahead of Resistance
How bacteria develop resistance to antisense antibiotics - and how future therapies can be designed to reduce the risk of resistance
Antibodies produced following the Ebola vaccination neutralise the current Bundibugyo virus variant
A team of researchers from Hamburg, Berlin, Göttingen and Hannover has provided evidence of possible cross-protection offered by an already authorised Zaire Ebola virus vaccine.
Research
We conduct translational infection research to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in humans. We focus on three areas that characterize our research work. Find out here how we proceed and what results we achieve.
Labs at TWINCORE
Under the leadership of our best scientists, various labs are working on different projects within our research topics.
2026Journal of Virology : e0111726
Arp2/3 complex-dependent actin remodeling is required for efficient RSV uncoating in A549 cells
Xie E, Schubert M, Reeb J, Seligmann B, Schaks M, Müsken M, Steffen A, Stradal T, Haid S, Rottner K, Sieben C
2026Molecular Therapy : The Journal of the American Society of Gene Therapy : S1525-0016(26)00714-8
ACC1 inhibition enhances BCG-induced trained immunity by reprogramming Acetyl-CoA metabolism
Baydemir I, Nikolka F, Bulut Ö, Ferreira A, Kilic G, Geckin B, Kramer R, Cuenca-Escalona J, Floor E, Báez-Magaña M, Matzaraki V, Deckers J, Anbergen T, van Elsas Y, Beldman T, Moorlag S, Charlotte J de Bree L, Spanou V, Andriopoulou T, Li Y, Karagianni E, Novakovic B, Sohrabi Y, Joosten L, Hiller K, Domínguez-Andrés J
2026The Journal of Clinical Investigation : e203540
Immune Cell-Specific SMN Expression and Sustained Immune Alterations in Treated Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Tapken I, Rahmel-Stein K, Ehlers C, Cieri F, Detering N, Schüning T, Bjelica B, Mindermann C, Neuhoff S, Schmitt L, Leo M, Hagenacker T, Illsinger S, Di Schiavi E, Graalmann T, Petri S, Kalinke U, Claus P
Pessler Lab
Immunology
Cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers for early diagnosis and risk stratification of CNS infections
In collaboration with the Department of Neurology and the Metabolomics Department, the project is investigating metabolic products in cerebrospinal fluid in order to identify biomarkers for CNS infections and cell damage and to distinguish long COVID and viral from autoimmune diseases.
Behrendt Lab
Virology
Antiviral Strategies Against HEV
Together with the Department of Structural Biology at the University of Lübeck, human, strongly neutralizing antibodies against HEV were identified and characterized for the first time. These showed a protective effect in the mouse model and are currently being further developed for clinical application, including mRNA-based application methods.
Behrendt Lab
Virology
Determinants of the Clinical Course of Infection
Human, potentially neutralizing antibodies against HEV have advanced the development of new detection methods for the virus in patient samples. Serological and functional analyses are used to determine markers for the course and treatment of chronic infections.
Galardini Lab
Bacteriology
Genotype to phenotype studies in bacteria
By applying statistical genetics methods to pathogen genome sequences, we aim to identify and validate genetic determinants of phenotypes such as pathogenicity, virulence and antibiotic resistance, e.g. in E. coli and P. aeruginosa.
Seminar
TWINCORE Seminar - Systems Immunology
Dr. Verónica Durán
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford
"Age-dependent immune landscape in dengue infection and disease progression"
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Prof. Shirit Einav
Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford
"Targeting an understudied lipid kinase to restore lysosomal function in viral infection and neurodegeneration"
Lecture Series - Regulatory Science and Translational Research - Part 1
"Why is knowledge in regulatory science important for translational medicine and basic science?"
Career at TWINCORE
Want to become part of TWINCORE?
Take a look at our job advertisements to see if there is something suitable for you or send us an unsolicited application.
