Ulrike Protzer

Prof. Dr. Ulrike Protzer is a Professor of Virology at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Director of the Institute of Virology at TUM and the Helmholtz Zentrum München. Her research focuses on virus-host interactions, molecular mechanisms of viral control, and developing therapeutic strategies for chronic hepatitis B and SARS-CoV-2 immunity. She holds dual affiliations with the TUM School of Medicine and Health and leads the Department of Virology.

Prof. Protzer completed medical studies at Universities of Erlangen, Basel, and Durban, followed by specialization in internal medicine, gastroenterology, and infectious diseases. She earned her habilitation in virology in 2000 and led a junior research group at the Center for Molecular Medicine in Cologne (2002–2007). Since 2007, she has held her current chair at TUM.

Her research emphasizes translational approaches, including therapeutic vaccines for HBV and studies on SARS-CoV-2 immune responses. Recent work highlights strategies to enhance neutralizing immunity against viral variants and novel treatments targeting viral cccDNA reservoirs in chronic infections.

Prof. Protzer has advised national and international bodies during the COVID-19 pandemic and contributes to interdisciplinary initiatives at the Helmholtz Zentrum München. Her work bridges basic virology with clinical applications, particularly in liver-focused viral pathogenesis.