This was the 7. Network meeting of Infect-Net at the University of Würzburg

PD Dr. Jeanine Rismondo, Georg-August-University Of Göttingen

Foto Credit: Luisa Härtig

On 22. and 23. September 2026 we were invited by the Infect-Net members Prof. Dr. Franziska Faber and Prof. Dr. Stefanie Kampmeier to our 7. Network Meeting. In the Institute for Molecular infection biology, more than 50 participants were able to discuss about the diverse functions of RNA in infection research and make new contacts during interactive group activities.

RNA in infection research

Ein besonderes Highlight war die Keynote der RNA Biochemikerin Prof. Dr. Katharina Höfer vom Leibniz Institut für Immuntherapie. Gemeinsam mit Ihrem Team untersucht sie wie RNA-Modifizierungen die Genaktivität beeinflussen. In ihrem Vortrag zeigte sie wie Phagen RNA-Modifizierungen wie die RNAylierung nutzen, um die Translationsmaschinerie ihres Wirtes zu modulieren.

Subsequently, the following Infect-Net members offered us insight into their research:

• Prof. Dr. Cynthia Sharma (University of Würzburg) showed the influence of small RNAs and small proteins in the flagella biogenesis in Campylobacter jejuni.
• Prof. Dr. Franziska Faber (University of Würzburg) spoke about the use of programmable RNA-antibiotics, the Asobiotika, for the treatment of infections.
• Prof. Dr. Stephanie Young (University of Bonn), explained the role of MOV10-LINE-1 Complex in infection with the Hepatitis D Virus.
• Prof. Dr. Dorothee Viemann (University Hospital Würzburg) illuminated the mechanisms responsible for age-dependent progression of viral respiratory infections in humans.

World Café

Am Nachmittag konnten sich die Teilnehmerinnen in einem World Café, das von Prof. Dr. Ina Maja Vorberg moderiert wurde, austauschen – die Themen reichten hier von Karriereplanung bis hin zu der Fragestellung, wie künstliche Intelligenz unseren Forschungsalltag beeinflusst.

Life-Long Learning

The second day began with a lecture by Prof. Dr. Claudia Peus from the Institute for LifeLong Learning at the Technical University of Munich on the topic of lifelong learning and leadership in science. She showed how career paths are influenced by different leadership styles and talked about strategies that can help develop leadership skills.

Panel discussion

Another Highlight of the network meeting was a panel discussion on the topic of challenges for researchers in different stages of life, moderated by the InfectNet Chairperson Prof Dr Gabriele Pradel. The different phases of life were represented by the members of the Infect-Net PD Dr. Jeanine Rismondo, Prof. Dr. Franziska Faber, PD Dr Michaela Petter and Prof. Dr. Ina Maja Vorberg .

Moms@Science

The culmination was the presentation of Lisa Tölle from the Pädagogische Hochschule in Freiburg, who gave us insights into the activities of the Meta-IFIF Initiative Moms@Science .

Save the date!

The next network meeting will take place from 16. – 17.09.2027 at the University hospital in Essen. The organizers Jun.-Prof. Dr. Christina Karsten, Prof. Dr. Kathrin Sutter, Dr. Hannah S. Black-Hawk, Paula Busskamp Castro, Isabel Zydek and Lisa Weber are already in the middle of the planning.