PILOT Director Philipp Henneke elected to the German National Academy of Sciences (Leopoldina)

PILOT is proud to announce that our Director, Philipp Henneke, has been elected to the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina in recognition of his outstanding contributions to infection and immunity research.

This prestigious honour recognises Prof. Henneke's pioneering work over many years at the intersection of immunology, infectious diseases and paediatrics.

His research on the plasticity of the neonatal immune system - and specifically how macrophages integrate genetic programming with environmental cues to enable organ development and pathogen defence - has transformed our understanding of host–pathogen interactions in early life.

Since PILOT's inception, his research has been tightly interwoven with the work of the consortium. By exploring how immune cells develop and adapt to specific tissue niches, PILOT, under Prof. Henneke's leadership, continues to push the boundaries of how we understand neonatal health and treat early-life infections. Together, these efforts aim to deepen our understanding of neonatal infections and develop more targeted treatments, ultimately ensuring that children are given the best possible start in life.

Election to the Leopoldina, which was founded in 1652 and is one of the oldest scientific Academies in the world, is among the highest scientific honours in Germany and recognises researchers who have made an exceptional contribution to science.

PILOT warmly congratulates Philipp on this well-deserved recognition!

More information (in German) is available here: https://www.uniklinik-freiburg.de/presse/pressemitteilungen/detailansicht/6894-freiburger-infektionsforscher-in-die-leopoldina-aufgenommen.html