Ulrike Protzer

Ulrike Protzer is a Professor and Director of the Institute of Virology at both Helmholtz Zentrum München and the Technical University of Munich (TUM). She is an internationally renowned virologist specializing in viral hepatitis and SARS-CoV-2 research, with a focus on virus-host interactions, immunotherapies, and vaccine development. Her work bridges interdisciplinary collaborations across national and EU-wide research networks.

• 1989: Doctorate in Medicine, University of Erlangen
• 1996: Specialist in Internal Medicine
• 2005: Board Exam in Medical Microbiology and Virology

Protzer's research explores molecular mechanisms of viral exploitation of host organisms, aiming to develop immune-based therapies for hepatitis B/C and SARS-CoV-2. She investigates immune recognition of viruses, risks of endogenous viral sequences, and viral vectors for vaccines. Her work is applied through partnerships with University Hospital Rechts der Isar and clinicians across Europe.

She leads key initiatives such as the EU-funded TherVacB consortium (since 2019) and Germany-wide TherVacB PLUS, combining therapeutic vaccines with antibody treatments. Her contributions to translational research have been recognized with prestigious awards, including the DZIF Prize and Bavarian Order of Merit.