Mourning for Prof. Dr. Michael P. Manns: pioneer of infectious disease medicine dies

Mourning for Prof. Dr. Michael P. Manns: pioneer of infectious disease medicine dies

Prof. Dr. Michael P. Manns, a leading figure in medical research and former president of the Hannover Medical School (MHH), has died at the age of 73. He succumbed to a tumor that had affected him for months, but did not stop him from continuing to do intensive research. Manns was a pioneer in the field of individualized infection medicine and played a key role in the founding of the Center for Individualized Infection Medicine (CiiM), a joint initiative of the Helmholtz Center for Infection Research and the MHH.

Mourning for Manns was expressed by many of his colleagues. MHH President Prof. Dr. Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner honored him as an outstanding doctor and scientist who always took responsibility for other people. Prof. Dr. Heiner Wedemeyer, director of the Gastroenterology Clinic, described Manns as a mentor who motivated many young doctors. From 1991 to 2020 he worked as director of the MHH Clinic for Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Endocrinology, where his main focus was on liver diseases, viral hepatitis and transplant medicine.

The contribution to individualized medicine

Under Manns' leadership, CiiM opened on December 3, 2025, with the goal of developing tailored therapies for patients with infectious diseases. Individualized medicine, an area in which Manns was heavily involved, takes into account specific health threats and the individual's genotype. Lifestyle, age and previous illnesses also play a role. These approaches not only improve treatment outcomes but also minimize potential side effects.

Advances in individualized medicine require a deeper insight into molecular processes. Technologies such as high-throughput methods and modern imaging techniques are crucial to better understand disease mechanisms. Examples of this include individualized treatment strategies, such as administering Herceptin to breast cancer patients only if certain genetic characteristics are present.

A legacy of research

In his role as President of the MHH, a position he took over in 2019 and held until the end of 2024, Manns had to struggle with the challenges of the corona pandemic. He campaigned for the transformation of the MHH into the Hannover Health Science Campus. His research contributed to Germany becoming an important location for individual health research, as the CiiM infrastructure shows.

Manns’ commitment went beyond research. He was involved in the development of the national competence network for hepatitis (Hep-Net) and initiated numerous clinical studies. In 2019 he was awarded the Great Cross of Merit of the Lower Saxony Order of Merit for his services.

With his death, the medical community not only loses a well-founded scientist, but also a personality who had a significant influence on the future of infectious medicine through his commitment and vision. His legacy and impetus for individualized medicine will continue to be felt in research and therapy as new approaches in the areas of gene therapy and regenerative medicine are further developed.

For more information about individualized medicine and ongoing research projects in the field of infectious medicine, please visit hannover.de and gesundheitsforschung-bmftr.de.