DZIF project nominated for the “Science Breakthrough of the Year 2026” award
Falling Walls Foundation honors DZIF-supported research on novel antibiotics
The project “PROTON—Breaking the Wall of Deadly Bacterial Infections” has been nominated by the Falling Walls Foundation for the title “Science Breakthrough of the Year 2026” in the Life Sciences category. The prestigious award honors scientific advances that break down barriers in science and have the potential to make a global impact.
The project, led by DZIF scientist Prof. Mark Brönstrup at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), was nominated for the development of an innovative agent against the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus. As part of the project, which is substantially supported by the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and its Product Development Unit, the research team is developing novel active agents designed to significantly reduce the risk of antibiotic resistance.
The active agent belongs to a class of compounds known as “pathoblockers”. Unlike classic antibiotics, pathoblockers do not inhibit bacterial growth but instead specifically block the mechanisms that cause disease. The focus is on neutralizing a toxin produced by S. aureus that destroys lung tissue and immune cells. In the future, the product is intended to be used primarily for the prevention and treatment of pneumonia in in high-risk patients in hospitals.
The nomination highlights the potential of the “PROTON—Breaking the Wall of Deadly Bacterial Infections” project to translate excellent basic research into tangible medical innovations. The winners of the “Science Breakthrough of the Year 2026” awards will be announced at the Falling Walls Science Summit in Berlin this November.
Source: Press release from the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research (HZI)
For more information on the “PROTON—Breaking the Wall of Deadly Bacterial Infections” project, please visit the DZIF website titled "Small-molecule inhibitors of Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin for severe lung infections".
