Andreas Herrmann

Prof. Dr. Andreas Herrmann is the Chair of Macromolecular Materials and Systems at RWTH Aachen University and a Member of the Scientific Board at the DWI – Leibniz Institute for Interactive Materials. His research group integrates synthetic chemistry, molecular biology, and physics to develop nucleic acid-polymer conjugates and supercharged polypeptides for applications in drug delivery, bioadhesives, and biomedical engineering.

• Education: Chemistry at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (PhD, 2000, summa cum laude)
• Key Roles: Acting Scientific Director at DWI (2023), Deputy Scientific Director (2018–2023), Spokesperson for RWTH's Chemistry Department (2018–2020)

Research Focus: His work bridges mechanochemistry and life sciences, including sonopharmacology (ultrasound-triggered drug activation), sonogenetics (ultrasound-controlled gene expression), and ultrastrong bioadhesives for surgical applications. His group pioneered DNA-based nanomaterials for ophthalmic treatments and self-healing systems.

Scientific Trends: Recent articles highlight applications of DNA nanotechnology in immunostimulation, mechanochemical drug release, and AI-driven material design. His work spans Chemical Science, Nature Chemistry, and Advanced Materials, emphasizing scalable, responsive, and biohybrid systems.

• Key Awards:
  • ERC Advanced Grant (2024)
  • DOG Patent Prize (2018)
  • VICI Grant (2010)

Team & Collaborations: Leads interdisciplinary projects like ACTISONO (sonopharmacology) and NARRATE (aptamer diagnostics), with affiliations to institutes in Germany, Netherlands, and South Korea.