Achim Hörauf

Prof. Achim Hörauf serves as Director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP) at the University Hospital Bonn and holds the Professorship of Parasitology at the University of Bonn. His leadership extends to coordinating the Bonn-Cologne site of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) alongside Prof. Oliver Cornely.

His research centers on filariasis and neglected tropical diseases, with breakthrough work on the endosymbiotic Wolbachia-filaria relationship enabling antibiotic-based treatments. His team developed corallopyronin A—a novel antibiotic in late preclinical development effective against Wolbachia, multidrug-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Rickettsia spp., Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhoeae. Current projects include AI-driven histology for onchocerciasis and clinical trials for lymphedema management.

Hörauf actively shapes global health policy as chairman of the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs), advising the WHO, Carter Center, and German Federal Ministry on filariasis elimination. His international collaborations span 20+ years with African researchers through USAID/BMBF-funded consortia conducting RCTs on doxycycline and hygiene interventions.

He leads major funded initiatives including:

• DZIF: Corallopyronin A preclinical development
• Gates Foundation: AI for onchocerciasis treatment
• DFG: MAP-TB (helminth effects on TB vaccine)
• USAID: LAMP assay diagnostics optimization
• BMBF: TAKeOFF consortium for filariasis/podoconiosis

His work has generated five patent applications for novel anthelmintics through partnerships with Bayer, AbbVie, and Celgene.