The PROTON team, led by Prof. Mark Brönstrup, has been nominated for the development of a novel antibiotic technology to combat Staphylococcus aureus. The approach does not aim to inhibit bacterial growth, but rather blocks disease-causing mechanisms. The focus is on a pathoblocker targeting a toxin that damages lung tissue and immune cells. The technology is intended for future use in hospital settings to treat pneumonia in high-risk patients and could help to counteract the growing problem of antibiotic resistance.
Also nominated is the ENDURIVAC team, under the leadership of Dr Henning Jacobsen, in the Department of Viral Immunology led by Prof. Luka Cicin-Sain. The researchers are developing a vaccine platform designed to provide long-term immune protection against respiratory pathogens following a single dose. To this end, antigens from respiratory viruses are incorporated into a mouse cytomegalovirus (MCMV) as a vector. The MCMV vector system cannot replicate in humans and does not cause disease, but it does induce a sustained activation of the immune system. This makes it possible to reduce the need for booster jabs and to simplify vaccination strategies, particularly for regions with limited resources.
The Falling Walls Foundation awards the ‘Science Breakthrough of the Year’ to scientific advances that address challenges of international relevance. The winners will be announced at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin in November 2026.
Ascenion, as the HZI’s technology transfer partner, facilitates the commercialization of scientific findings and supports the progression of successful research– such as these nominated approaches – towards practical application, collaborations and potential commercial development.
Further information: HZI press release
