North German Science Award for DEEP-DV Research Consortium

For its cross-state collaboration, the DEEP-DV research consortium (“Disrupt – Evade – Exploit: Gene Expression and Manipulation of the Host Response in DNA Virus Infections”) has been awarded the 2026 North German Science Award. Jointly led by scientists from the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE) and Technische Universität Braunschweig, the consortium investigates how DNA viruses evade the immune system and persist in the body over the long term. The consortium brings together researchers from Hamburg, Hanover, and Braunschweig, with scientists from the Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) contributing their expertise in molecular virology, viral genomics and systems biology.

Since 2012, the German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein have used the award to recognize collaborative research projects in different disciplines. This year’s award focuses on the life sciences. Three projects were honored, each receiving prize money of €83.333.

“The Northern German Science Award recognizes a form of collaboration that is essential to modern biomedical research: scientists bring together their diverse expertise across state and institutional boundaries to address complex medical questions. DEEP-DV is an excellent example of the strength of Northern Germany’s research landscape. I warmly congratulate all the scientists involved on this achievement,” says Prof. Dr. Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and member of the Executive Board of the UKE.

“The sooner we establish the scientific foundations needed to address the questions of the future, the sooner our society will benefit. This is particularly true for biomedical research. The best way to achieve this is by investing in long-term research collaborations that transcend state and institutional boundaries. It is therefore so important that the state ministries involved use the North German Science Award to support the development of long-term and sustainable collaborations across state borders. I warmly congratulate Prof. Dr. Melanie Brinkmann and the entire DEEP-DV team on this well-deserved distinction and wish everyone involved every success in implementing their project,” says Prof. Dr. Angela Ittel, President of Technische Universität Braunschweig.

“Chronic viral infections and their long-term consequences are becoming increasingly important in an ageing society and for vulnerable populations. By bringing together scientific expertise and state-of-the-art technologies, we aim to better understand persistent viral infections and develop new approaches for prevention and treatment,” says Prof. Dr. Nicole Fischer, co-spokesperson of the consortium, Director of the Institute of Molecular Virology and Tumor Virology at the UKE and an associated scientist at the Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV).

“Major scientific advances rarely happen in isolation. They emerge when people bring together their different strengths and work jointly towards a shared goal. That is exactly what DEEP-DV represents. This award therefore recognizes not only our research findings, but also a strong Northern German research network that demonstrates what we can achieve together,” says Prof. Dr. Melanie Brinkmann, co-spokesperson of the consortium, Professor at the Institute of Genetics at Technische Universität Braunschweig and Group Leader at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI).

How DNA viruses evade the immune system

Many DNA viruses – including herpesviruses, polyomaviruses, papillomaviruses and adenoviruses – can persist in the human body over long periods of time. They may remain largely inactive but can reactivate under certain conditions. This can have serious consequences, particularly for people with weakened immune systems. The DFG-funded DEEP-DV consortium, established in 2022, therefore focuses on the molecular mechanisms that enable DNA viruses to evade immune surveillance and persist in the body. Using advanced genome, transcriptome and single-cell analyses as well as innovative organoid models, the researchers investigate how viruses interact with their host cells. Their goal is to decipher the mechanisms underlying viral persistence and thereby lay the foundations for new approaches to prevention and treatment.

One of DEEP-DV’s key collaborative projects is the development of a transcriptional atlas – a molecular map of DNA virus infections that will eventually be made available to the international research community. The atlas will show which genes in the virus and host cell are active at different stages of infection. Another major focus is epigenetic regulation. At LIV researchers are investigating molecular switches that control gene activity and may contribute to the establishment of long-term viral reservoirs.

The consortium brings together leading expertise in infectious disease research across the Northern German research corridor of Hamburg, Hanover and Braunschweig. At the UKE and LIV, researchers combine expertise in molecular virology, viral genomics and systems biology. Technische Universität Braunschweig and the HZI contribute particular expertise in immune responses and the molecular regulation of viral infections. The Center for Structural Systems Biology (CSSB) and Hannover Medical School (MHH) complement the consortium with state-of-the-art infrastructure and expertise in structural biology, imaging, integrative systems biology and herpesvirus research. Together, these institutions have established a closely connected research environment spanning the Hamburg–Hanover–Braunschweig axis.