Thomas F. Meyer

Prof. Dr. Thomas F. Meyer is a leading figure in molecular infection biology, holding professorships at Charité University Medicine Berlin and Humboldt University of Berlin. As Founding Director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology (1994) and former Director at its Tübingen branch (1990), his work focuses on pathogen-host interactions and infection-induced carcinogenesis.

• Education: Ph.D. at Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg
• Key Affiliations: Max Planck Society, Charité University Medicine, Humboldt University

His research explores three major areas: genetic basis of microbial virulence (1978–1998), host-directed therapies (1991–2018), and chronic infection-cancer links (2000–present). Techniques include RNA interference screens, organoid cultures, and mouse models to study Helicobacter pylori, Chlamydia, and Neisseria. He coordinated the EU FP6 RIGHT project (2005–2009) and pioneered Europe’s first BSL3 screening facility.

Notable scientific contributions include discovering slipped strand mispairing in Neisseria (1982), autotransporter proteins (1987), and colibactin-induced mutagenesis in colorectal cancer (2020). His 2025 organoid studies reveal novel infection-cancer mechanisms in the female reproductive tract.

• Awards:
  • EMBO Member
  • German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina Member