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The Helmholtz Institute Würzburg (HIRI) is a globally unique research institution dedicated to connecting RNA research and infection biology. Located as a site of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig and in cooperation with the Julius-Maximilians-Universität Würzburg (JMU), the HIRI is dedicated to researching the role of ribonucleic acids (RNA) in infection processes.
The mission of the HIRI is to use the immense potential of RNA as a diagnostic molecule, target and active ingredient for combating infectious diseases through interdisciplinary expertise and state-of-the-art research infrastructure. The institute pursues an integrative approach to develop new strategies for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of infections.
The research at the HIRI focuses on three central areas:
Another focus is on RNA-Delivery, the development of technologies for the targeted delivery of RNA-based therapeutics for the treatment of infectious diseases.
The HIRI operates the Single-Cell Center Würzburg, a competence center for the analysis and understanding of diseases at the level of individual cells. The center offers comprehensive solutions for experiments and research, from the development of customized protocols to state-of-the-art technologies such as single-cell RNA sequencing and spatial transcriptomics.
The HIRI is committed to sustainability and is implementing initiatives to create a sustainable outdoor facility and promote sustainable laboratory operations.
The institute also offers graduate programs such as "RNA & Infection" and "RNAmed - Future Leaders in RNA-based Medicine" to promote young scientists.
By combining basic research and application-oriented research, the HIRI contributes to developing innovative therapeutic approaches for better diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases and to addressing the challenges of increasing antimicrobial resistance and emerging pathogens.
