Who are ....

Dr. Alexander Simonis is a clinician-scientist specializing in infectious diseases, with a particular focus on developing novel immunotherapeutic approaches to combat multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial pathogens. Since 2023, he has been a specialist in Internal Medicine, Hematology, and Oncology at the Department I of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital Cologne. He leads a BMBF-funded Junior Research Group in Infectious Diseases at the same department. Also in 2023, he joined the Junior Research Group Program at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), where his laboratories are located. Since 2022, he has been participating in the CMMC’s Career Advancement Program (CAP), supporting his career development.

Academic & Research Career

In 2017, Alexander Simonis received his MD with summa cum laude from the University of Würzburg, where he investigated the functional relevance of acid sphingomyelinase in the pathogenesis of Neisseria meningitidis under the supervision of Professor Alexandra Schubert-Unkmeir. His thesis was recognized for its excellence. 
From 2016 to 2018, he trained as a resident physician in Medical Oncology and Hematology at the University Hospital Zürich, gaining experience in both clinical and research settings. During this period, he worked in the Experimental Hematology Lab at the University of Zürich and University Hospital Zürich, conducting research on hematological malignancies under Professor Markus Manz.
In 2019, Simonis joined Department I of Internal Medicine at the University Hospital Cologne as a resident physician. Between 2019 and 2022, he conducted research in the Translational Research Unit – Infectious Diseases (TRU-ID) at the University Hospital Cologne under the mentorship of Professor Jan Rybniker, focusing on bacterial pathogenesis and antibiotic drug discovery.
Alexander Simonis’s research centers on understanding host-pathogen interactions, particularly the human immune response to bacterial infections and the interplay between bacterial virulence factors and host immunity. His work aims to develop innovative immunotherapies that enhance host defenses and directly target bacterial pathogens.
One of his notable contributions is the development of patient-derived monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) targeting the PcrV protein of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. P. aeruginosa is a Gram-negative bacterium known for high levels of antibiotic resistance, often leading to severe infections in critically ill and immunocompromised patients. The PcrV protein is a key component of the type III secretion system (T3SS), a major virulence factor contributing to bacterial persistence and increased mortality.

Research Contributions & Selected Publications

Simonis and his team successfully isolated highly potent anti-PcrV mAbs from patients chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa, demonstrating broad activity against drug-resistant strains. These antibodies showed efficacy comparable to conventional antibiotics in preclinical models, paving the way for novel treatment strategies. Beyond P. aeruginosa, his research aims to expand this antibody-based approach to other bacterial pathogens commonly associated with antimicrobial resistance. By establishing a comprehensive platform for developing mAbs targeting various bacterial virulence factors, his work holds great promise for innovative therapeutic strategies against multidrug-resistant infections.

Alexander Simonis’s groundbreaking findings have been published in leading scientific journals, including:

• "Discovery of highly neutralizing human antibodies targeting Pseudomonas aeruginosa" (Cell, 2024, doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.10.002) – A study identifying potent human antibodies against P. aeruginosa, highlighting their potential for therapeutic use.

For a complete list of publications, visit his PubMed page.

Scientific Recognition & Awards

In 2025, Alexander Simonis and Jan Rybniker jointly received €1.7 million from the German Center for Infectious Research as well €1.5 million from the Else-Kröner-Fresenius Stiftung for the further clinical development of anti-PcrV mAbs. In 2024, Simonis was honored with the Walter-Siegenthaler Silver Medal for his research and secured funding from the German Research Council (DFG).
In 2023, Simonis received funding from the Moritz-Stiftung, affiliated with the Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, in acknowledgment of his promising research endeavors. That same year, he was appointed leader of an Associated Junior Research Group at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), where he continues advancing his studies on host-pathogen interactions. Since 2022, he has headed a BMBF-funded Junior Research Group in Infectious Diseases, which received approximately €1.8 million over five years to develop novel antibody-based immunotherapies targeting severe bacterial infections. His work has also been supported by the Career Advancement Program (CAP) at the Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Cologne, a program designed to foster promising clinician-scientists.
From 2020 to 2023, Simonis participated in the Cologne Clinician Scientist Program (CCSP), further integrating his clinical and research expertise. His earlier career achievements include funding from Köln Fortune (2020) and the Dr. Josef-Schneider, Theresia Stiftung Award from the University of Würzburg (2018). Additionally, he was awarded a fellowship from the Hanne-Liebermann-Stiftung in Zürich (2017–2018) and received a doctoral scholarship from the University of Würzburg (2012–2013) in recognition of his exceptional academic performance.

Dr. Sebastian J Theobald is a molecular immunologist specializing in host-pathogen interactions, with a focus on infectious diseases and immunotherapy. Since January 2023, he has served as Co-Principal Investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), leading research efforts within project B10, which investigates immune crosstalk in viral infections and vaccination. In parallel, he is a Research Associate at the University Hospital of Cologne, where he is part of the Clinic I for Internal Medicine, working with Professor Jan Rybniker on infection immunology and translational research.

Theobald´s research focuses on understanding the molecular and immunological interactions between the host immune system and pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2. His work aims to decipher innate and adaptive immune crosstalk and explore new immunomodulatory strategies for infectious diseases. His academic career is progressing steadily, marked by impactful international collaborations and pioneering research, through which he continues to make significant contributions to the field of infection immunology.

Academic & Research Career

Sebastian Theobald's research career began with a strong foundation in biomedical sciences. He obtained his Doctorate (Dr. rer. nat.) summa cum laude in 2020 from Hannover Medical School under the mentorship of Professor Renata Stripecke. His doctoral research focused on immunological mechanisms in hematology and infectious diseases. Prior to this, he earned a Master of Science in Biomedicine from Hannover Medical School and a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology from the University of Applied Sciences Aachen. His early research experiences included laboratory internships and thesis projects at renowned institutions, including the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University of Cambridge, and Yale School of Medicine. Key publications include: 

• Spleen tyrosine kinase mediates innate and adaptive immune crosstalk in SARS-CoV-2 mRNA vaccination (EMBO Mol Med., 2022, doi:10.15252/emmm.202215888)
• Gasdermin D mediates host cell death but not interleukin-1β secretion in Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected macrophages (Cell Death Discov., 2021, doi: 10.1038/s41420-021-00716-5)
• Long-lived macrophage reprogramming drives spike protein-mediated inflammasome activation in COVID-19 (EMBO Mol Med. 2021, doi:10.15252/emmm.202114150)

For an overview of Theobald´s publications, please click here.

Professional Engagement & Editorial Work

Beyond his research, Theobald actively contributes to the scientific community. Since 2024, he has been a Board Member of the Infection Immunology Working Group of the German Society for Immunology (DGfI) and an Associate Member of the DFG Priority Program SPP 2225. He also serves as Vice-Spokesperson of the Young Immunologists of the DGfI and as a Review Editor for Frontiers in Tuberculosis.

Scientific Recognition & Awards

Sebastian Theobald has been recognized with numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to immunology and infectious disease research. In 2022, he was awarded the PhD Prize of the Paul-Ehrlich Society for Infection Therapy and, in 2021, the DZIF PhD Prize from the German Society for Infectious Diseases (DGI). His research has also been supported by several competitive grants, including CMMC Individual Project Funding in 2023, as well as funding from the University of Cologne, Cologne Fortune, and the Imhof-Society.

Theobald´s research focuses on understanding the molecular and immunological interactions between the host immune system and pathogens such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis and SARS-CoV-2. His work aims to decipher innate and adaptive immune crosstalk and explore new immunomodulatory strategies for infectious diseases. Through his leadership roles, international collaborations, and cutting-edge research, he continues to make significant contributions to the field of infection immunology.

Dr. Robert Hänsel-Hertsch is an internationally recognized molecular biologist specializing in genome regulation and DNA G-quadruplex (G4) structures. Since August 2019, he has been a Principal Investigator at the Center for Molecular Medicine Cologne (CMMC), where he leads an independent research group. He was appointed as a Junior Group Leader through the highly competitive CMMC Junior Research Group Program, equivalent to the Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Prior to this, from November 2013 to July 2019, he conducted postdoctoral research at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute at the University of Cambridge, under the mentorship of Sir Professor Shankar Balasubramanian. His research focused on DNA secondary structures and their roles in genome biology. 

Academic & Research Career

Hänsel-Hertsch received his PhD in Biochemistry (summa cum laude) from Goethe University Frankfurt in November 2013 under the supervision of Professor Volker Dötsch at the Department of Biophysical Chemistry. During this period, he also conducted research at the Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute.

Between November 2009 and June 2013, he pursued his doctoral studies at Goethe University. As part of his academic training, he was awarded a JSPS Predoctoral Fellowship, spending January to March 2012 at the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences under the supervision of Professor Ichio Shimada.

He obtained his Diploma in Biochemistry summa cum laude from Goethe University Frankfurt in October 2009, conducting research under Professor Volker Dötsch. His undergraduate and graduate studies spanned from October 2003 to October 2009 at Goethe University.

Research Contributions & Selected Publications

Hänsel-Hertsch has significantly advanced our understanding of DNA G-quadruplex (G4) structures and their roles in genome regulation. His research has provided critical insights into how G4 structures influence gene expression, genome stability, and their potential as therapeutic targets. Key publications include:

• "Landscape of G-quadruplex DNA structural regions in breast cancer" (Nature Genetics, 2020, doi: 10.1038/s41588-020-0672-8) – Mapped G4 DNA structures across breast cancer genomes, revealing their enrichment in regulatory regions of amplified and highly expressed genes. The findings suggest that G4 structures contribute to cancer genome architecture and may serve as therapeutic targets.
• "Characteristics, origin, and potential for cancer diagnostics of ultrashort plasma cell-free DNA“ (Genome Research, 2022, doi: 10.1101/gr.275691.121)– Discovery of ultrashort single-stranded cell-free DNA with the potential to form G4 structures in blood plasma.
• "Genome-wide mapping of endogenous G-quadruplex DNA structures by chromatin immunoprecipitation and high-throughput sequencing" (Nat Protoc., 2018, doi: 10.1038/nprot.2017.150) – Developed a method for genome-wide mapping of G4 structures, providing insights into their distribution and functional significance in living cells.
• "The age-related decline of helicase function-how G-quadruplex structures promote genome instability” (FEBS Letters, 2024, doi: 10.1002/1873-3468.14939) -Perspective article on the hyposthesis of Frobel and Hänsel-Hertsch how G4s contribute to aging.
• "G-quadruplex structures mark human regulatory chromatin" (Nature Genetics, 2016, doi: 10.1038/ng.3662) – Demonstrated that G4 structures are prevalent in human regulatory regions (e.g., promoters and enhancers), linking them to active chromatin states and gene regulation.

With his groundbreaking research on G-quadruplex structures, Robert Hänsel-Hertsch continues to advance the understanding of genome stability, gene regulation, and their implications for disease. His contributions to both research and the scientific community establish him as a leading figure in molecular biology.

For a complete list of publications, visit his PubMed page.

Scientific Recognition & Awards

Robert Hänsel-Hertsch has received numerous prestigious awards and fellowships in recognition of his outstanding contributions to molecular biology and genome research. In 2017, he was awarded the Herchel Smith Postdoctoral Fellowship, highlighting his excellence in postdoctoral research. Prior to this, in 2013, he received both the EMBO Long-Term Fellowship and the DAAD Postdoctoral Fellowship, further supporting his early research career. During his doctoral studies, he was honored with the JSPS Predoctoral Fellowship for North American and European Researchers in 2011, allowing him to conduct research at the University of Tokyo. That same year, he received the Richard-Ernst Award for outstanding contributions in magnetic resonance. In 2010, he was awarded a PhD Fellowship from the Fund of the Chemical Industry, recognizing his promising research potential. Earlier in his academic career, in 2009/10, he was presented with the Procter & Gamble Award for the best diploma thesis in Biochemistry, marking an early distinction in his scientific journey. These accolades reflect Hänsel-Hertsch’s significant impact on the field of genome regulation and his dedication to advancing molecular biology.