Konstantin Sparrer

Konstantin Sparrer serves as Group Leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) with a primary affiliation at Ulm University's Institute of Molecular Virology within the Medical School. His research program investigates the molecular interplay between viral infections, neuroinflammation, and neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis.

Dr. Sparrer's laboratory focuses on:

• Mechanistic analysis of viral manipulation of CNS inflammation and proteostasis
• Development of neurotropic viral vectors for gene therapy
• Identification of human peptides for targeted anti-inflammatory treatments
• Sterile and pathogen-induced neuroinflammation pathways

His recent research has revealed critical insights into OAS2 regulation in antiviral responses and ARF1 mutations affecting cGAS-STING signaling, demonstrating how viral infections interface with innate immune pathways in neurodegenerative contexts. These studies employ cerebral organoid models, primary cell cultures, and advanced spatial interactome analysis techniques.

Dr. Sparrer actively participates in the European virology research community, regularly presenting at the Society for Virology (GfV) Annual Meetings and collaborating with institutions including the Center for Immunology of Viral Infections (CiViA) in Aarhus.