The research training group GRK 2504 – “Novel antiviral approaches: from small molecules to immune intervention” at the Friedrich-Alexander-Universität (FAU) was approved by the committees of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in May 2019 and prolonged into a second funding period in November 2023. Accordingly, our training and research programme began in October 2019. While two cohorts of doctoral students have finished their theses, the third cohort of doctoral researchers for a Dr. rer. nat. is in ongoing projects. In our cooperation project with the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard in Boston, we collaborate with associated doctoral researchers. Doctoral candidates in human medicine and clinician scientists complete our research training group with translation to the clinics.
Early in 2026, we will launch the last call stipends for medical doctoral thesis projects with GRK 2504.
Our training programme in Erlangen offers structured curricula for doctorates in science and medicine and for clinician scientists pursuing an academic career. All measures intend to support profound scientific training and to familiarise with translational research.
Our research programme aims to explore novel approaches for antiviral chemotherapy and immune intervention that build upon recent developments in molecular virology and immunology. The individual research projects address antiviral small molecules (area A), immune cell-mediated antiviral effects (area B), and antibody-based approaches (area C). Altogether, we envision multimodal antiviral strategies that combine antiviral chemotherapy with immune-based interventions as the most promising path towards the control of persistent viruses.
Coordination
Administration
Karin Ertl
Administrator of the GRK2504
Phone: +49 9131 85-35974
E-mail: karin.ertl(at)uk-erlangen.de
