معرفی
Professor Volker Thiel serves as Directorate Co-Chair of the Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID) and Head of a Research Group at the Institute of Virology and Immunology (IVI) within the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Bern. His work bridges veterinary and human medicine through the One Health approach, focusing on highly contagious animal diseases and zoonotic pathogens. The IVI operates high-security laboratories in Mittelhäusern (risk level 4) and Bern (risk level 2), where Thiel's team conducts critical research on emerging infectious diseases.
Thiel's research spans coronaviruses (including SARS-CoV-2 cloning and Omicron variant characterization), zoonotic pathogens (monkeypox, avian influenza), and animal diseases (African swine fever, BVD). His lab has developed innovative in vitro models for placental and brain tissue infection, contributed to understanding viral entry mechanisms, and pioneered nasal spray vaccine approaches. Recent work includes investigating H5N1 stability in dairy products (2024) and ASF immunity in pigs.
Thiel leads the National Research Program 'Covid-19' (NFP 78) initiatives and directs the Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases established in 2021. His team's SARS-CoV-2 clone has been adopted globally for diagnostic testing, antiviral screening, and vaccine development. The EPIZONE Annual Conference 2026 in Bern, which he's involved with, highlights his leadership in European infectious disease networks.
- Director of Multidisciplinary Center for Infectious Diseases (MCID)
- Principal Investigator for Swiss National Science Foundation projects
- Coordinator of international collaborations with FLI, OIE/FAO, and EU Reference Laboratories
Thiel mentors numerous doctoral researchers across virology specializations, with their work featured in the IVI Young Researchers blog. His lab participates in vaccine development consortia including RocketVax AG partnerships. Current projects focus on mucosal influenza vaccines, ASFV pathogenesis, and neurotropic potential of emerging viruses.
