Stefan H.E. Kaufmann

Stefan H.E. Kaufmann is a Professor of Immunology and Microbiology at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Founding Director of the Max Planck Institute of Infection Biology. His work focuses on tuberculosis (TB) research, vaccine development, and global health policy. He has extensively studied TB epidemiology, drug resistance, and diagnostic challenges, advocating for increased funding and interdisciplinary approaches to combat infectious diseases.

Kaufmann has contributed to advancements in TB vaccine candidates like VPM1002 and emphasized the urgent need for novel treatments against multidrug-resistant (MDR) and extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB strains. His research bridges immunology, microbiology, and public health, addressing both scientific and socioeconomic dimensions of disease control.

He has led initiatives to improve diagnostic tools such as the GeneXpert system and highlighted the economic burden of TB, advocating for international collaboration between public institutions and private sectors. His expertise spans molecular mechanisms of host-pathogen interactions, clinical trial design, and policy recommendations for global health equity.