Anne Balkema-Buschmann

PD Dr. Anne Balkema-Buschmann serves as Deputy Head of the Institute of Novel and Emerging Infectious Diseases at the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut, Germany's Federal Research Institute for Animal Health. She is a recognized Veterinarian Specialist in both Microbiology and Virology, leading research on emerging zoonotic diseases with a particular focus on bat-virus interactions and henipaviruses.

Dr. Balkema-Buschmann's research spans several critical areas in infectious disease science. Her work investigates the complex relationships between bats and viruses, particularly examining how bats serve as reservoirs for emerging pathogens while maintaining their own health. She leads projects focused on developing countermeasures against high-consequence pathogens including henipaviruses, with initiatives such as bivalent vaccines to reduce Nipah virus outbreak risks and novel virus-like particle vaccines for epidemic and pandemic threats. Her research integrates laboratory science with field studies through the One Health approach, recognizing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health.

Analysis of Dr. Balkema-Buschmann's recent publications reveals a strong emphasis on viral taxonomy, bat immunology, and emerging zoonotic threats. Her work spans from fundamental research on viral classification to applied studies on therapeutic interventions. A significant portion of her recent work focuses on understanding bat immune responses to viruses, which has implications for predicting and preventing spillover events to humans and livestock. Her research bridges veterinary medicine, human public health, and basic virology.

• A bivalent vaccine to reduce the risk of Nipah virus outbreaks
• Prevention of Viral Diseases with Epidemic and Pandemic Potential through Development and Clinical Testing of a Novel Virus Like Particle (VLP) Vaccine (VICI-Disease)
• Innovative Diagnostic Pipelines for One Health Surveillance
• Synergistically targeting pyrimidine metabolism and RNA integrity for the treatment of respiratory diseases caused by zoonotic influenza A viruses and henipaviruses
• In vivo efficacy studies of monoclonal antibodies and small molecules against SARS-CoV-2 and other relevant agents
• ISIDORe - Integrated services for infectious disease outbreak research

Dr. Balkema-Buschmann maintains active collaborations with researchers across institutions, particularly with Prof. M.H. Groschup, and contributes to international efforts in viral taxonomy through the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV). Her work has significant implications for understanding viral spillover events, developing countermeasures against emerging pathogens, and improving surveillance systems for early detection of zoonotic threats.