Virologist Thomas F. Schulz honored with Fritz Behrens Science Prize!

Virologist Thomas F. Schulz honored with Fritz Behrens Science Prize!

On May 23, 2025, Professor Dr. med. Thomas F. Schulz, virologist at the Hannover Medical School (MHH), was awarded the prestigious Fritz Behrens Foundation Science Prize for his life's work. The award ceremony took place in a festive setting, which was also attended by the former MHH President Prof. Dr. Michael Manns was present.

The prize is endowed with 30,000 euros and is awarded every two years. Prof. Dr. Reinhold Förster, director of the MHH Institute for Immunology, paid tribute to Schulz in his laudatory speech and described him as a “pioneer of virology”. For over 100 years, the Fritz Behrens Foundation has aimed to support people in difficult life situations and, in addition to research, also promotes social engagement and cultural projects. This is reflected, among other things, in enabling the establishment of a trauma clinic and a skin bank at the MHH.

Schulz's contribution to virology

Professor Schulz made a crucial contribution to the search for active ingredients against SARS-CoV-2 and other coronaviruses during the corona pandemic. Until last year he headed the Institute of Virology at the MHH and is now conducting research as a senior professor in the RESIST Cluster of Excellence. The aim of this project is to better understand individual susceptibility to infections in order to be able to prevent, diagnose and treat infections more efficiently.

In recent years, Schulz has studied not only the complement system, but also the role of herpes viruses, particularly the Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpes virus. His research is of central importance because it contributes to understanding the mechanisms of viral infections.

The relevance of SARS-CoV-2 in research

Understanding the properties of SARS-CoV-2 is essential for diagnostics, therapy and epidemiology. A review of the medical relevance of coronaviruses, published on October 30, 2020, highlights how profoundly the virus has impacted society and the economy. Keywords of this research include ACE2, which serves as a binding site for SARS-CoV-2, and the need for mutation monitoring to better assess the impact of virus variants on therapeutic strategies.

A central aspect of diagnostics is the direct detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections using nucleic acid amplification techniques, while antibody tests can be mainly useful for epidemiological questions. These tests have shown that immunity to secondary infections remains uncertain, particularly given the genomic variability of the virus.

Research on SARS-CoV-2 will continue to be crucial in influencing future medical care and strategies to combat the pandemic, as demonstrated by the previous work of pioneers such as Professor Schulz.

Former award winners

The Fritz Behrens Foundation has honored numerous notable scientists in the past. A list of the most recent award winners shows the diversity of research in this area:

Professor Schulz's award underlines the importance of virology and research work in this area, particularly in the context of global health crises. You can find more information about the award here MHH, while the further medical relevance of COVID-19 is revealed in a study PubMed is explained and the background to the research and awarding of prizes G-F-V can be read.