Virologist Florian Klein receives the Hamburg Science Prize 2025
Prof. Dr. Florian Klein, scientist at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), director of the Institute of Virology at University Hospital of Cologne, and a leading international expert in the field of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), is receiving the “Hamburger Wissenschaftspreis” for his work on “Immunomodulation”. The Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg is thus recognizing the physician's groundbreaking work in the field of antibody-mediated prevention and therapy of HIV and other viral infections. The prize, endowed with 150,000 euros, is donated by the “Hamburgische Stiftung für Wissenschaften, Entwicklung und Kultur Helmut und Hannelore Greve”. The award ceremony will take place on November 21, 2025, at the Hamburg City Hall.
Prof. Florian Klein’s research focuses on the development of human B lymphocytes and their production of antibodies that target viral pathogens, such as HIV, the hepatitis C virus, Ebola virus, and SARS-CoV-2. He is particularly interested in so-called broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibodies, which he develops to prevent and treat infectious diseases. Prof. Klein's work ensures that the research findings obtained with his team and cooperating research groups, are applied clinically in patients. Since 2022, Prof. Klein has been leading the Bridging Topic “Antibody-based Therapies” at the DZIF.
Beyond his scientific achievements, Florian Klein is also recognized for his strong commitment to science policy and society. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked with partners at the German Center for Infection Research to develop one of the first antibody-based therapies and investigated it in clinical trials. In addition, he advocated for effective testing systems. Together with his team and partners, he developed the so-called “lollipop test,” which enabled simple and widespread testing and allowed many children who tested negative to continue attending daycare centers and schools. Early in the pandemic, the virologist was also among the first to emphasize the importance of developing vaccines and achieving widespread immunization.
With the Hamburg Science Prize, the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg is honoring Prof. Dr. Florian Klein’s groundbreaking research in the field of antibody-mediated defense against viral infections and their immunomodulatory effects. His work deepens our understanding of antibody functions and lays the groundwork for advances in preventing and treating infectious diseases.
Florian Klein will use the €150,000 prize money for his further HIV research. He wants to find out why the virus remains under control for many years without medication in some people living with HIV after antibody therapy. “In these cases, we see that the virus is kept in check by the patients' own immune systems. This control can last for years,” says Florian Klein. “We suspect the reason is an interaction between the immune system’s cellular components and the administered antibodies. However, we do not know exactly how this works. The generous prize money now gives us the opportunity to understand the exact mechanisms involved.” The goal is to determine if this can be achieved in most people living with HIV, not just a few patients.
Source: Press release of the Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Hamburg (in German only)
