Committees
ANTIVIRAL THERAPY
The joint commission "Antiviral Therapy" of the DVV and GfV deals with the most diverse aspects of antiviral prophylaxis and therapy. The commission is involved in updating existing guidelines and initiating new guidelines and informs the scientific community about current developments in antiviral therapy.
ChairpersonR
Dr. Rolf Kaiser
University and University Hospital of Cologne
Institute of Virology
Fürst Pückler Straße 56
50935 Cologne
Tel. +49 (0) 221 - 478 85808
Vice Chair
Djin-Ye Oh, MD
Dept. 1, Infectious Diseases; FG17 (Influenza and Other Respiratory Virology)
Robert Koch Institute
Nordufer 20
13353 Berlin
Tel: +49 (0)30 - 18754 0
Fax: +49 (0)30 - 18754 2328
Members
APL Prof. Dr. Michaela Schmidtke, Jena
Assoz. Prof. Dr. Judith Aberle, Vienna
Prof. Dr. Ortwin Adams, Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. Ralf Bartenschlager, Heidelberg
Prof. Dr. Denisa Bojkova, Frankfurt am Main
Dr. Susanne Duwe, Berlin
Prof. Dr. med. Helmut Fickenscher, Kiel
Prof. Dr. Barbara Gärtner, Homburg/Saar
Dr. Katharina Göhring, Ulm
Prof. Dr. Klaus Hamprecht, Tübingen
Prof. Dr. Oliver Keppler, Munich
Prof. Dr. Thomas Klimkait, Basel
Dr. Klaus Korn, Erlangen
PD Dr. Andi Krumbholz, Kiel
Prof. Dr. Thomas Mertens, Ulm
Dr. med. Martin Obermeier, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Hannover
M.sc. Christiane Prifert, Halle
Prof. Dr. Jörg Timm, Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. med. Ulrike Wieland, Cologne
Prof. Dr. Peter Wutzler, Jena
Prof. Dr. John Ziebuhr, Gießen
Permanent guest of KAT-GfV/DVV: Dr. Holger Zimmermann, Wuppertal
Further information
Virological research with "dual-use" potential
The Commission "Virological Research with Dual-Use Potential" informs the virological scientific community about new developments and regulations. It is the point of contact for researchers, the public and other bodies in the scientific community and represents the GfV members in the implementation of ethical guidelines and possible regulation of virological research with dual-use potential. The Commission also aims to raise awareness among young scientists in the field of virology about freedoms and responsibilities in science.
Chairman
PD Dr Jens Bohne
Hannover Medical School (Hannover Medical School)
Institute of Virology, OE5230
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1
30625 Hannover
Tel: +49 511 532 4307
Chair
Dr Linda Brunotte
ZMBE
Centre for Molecular Biology of Inflammation
Von-Esmarch-Straße 56
48149 Münster
Tel: +49 251 83 52213
Members
Prof. Dr. Stephan Ludwig, Münster
Prof. Dr. Thomas Mettenleiter, Greifswald, Riems Island
Prof. Dr. Klaus Osterrieder, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Martin Schwemmle, Freiburg
Prof. Dr. Thomas Vahlenkamp, Leipzig
Prof. Dr. Thorsten Wolff, Berlin
Further information
DURC Commission of the GfV "Research with Dual-Use Potential in Virology"
The experiments of Fouchier and Kawaoka on altering the transmissibility of highly pathogenic influenza viruses have caused a great stir worldwide. In the field of virology, in particular, a multifaceted debate on safety aspects in research ("Dual Use Research of Concern - DURC") has flared up as a result. In infectious biology, the term DURC stands for research on certain human pathogens which potentially harbours the danger that the research results could also be misused for the development of bioweapons or for bioterrorist purposes. DURC is usually accompanied by an experimental design in which biological properties of a pathogen are changed ("gain-of-function"). For example, the ability to multiply, the transmissibility or the host spectrum of critical pathogens are changed experimentally. These changes could then lead to, among other things, increased pathogenicity or altered host tropism of a pathogen. However, DURC does not only affect infection research but also many other areas in research and development.
There is currently a discussion about which activities are necessary to better assess the benefits and risks of such research. Furthermore, the question arises whether and how current safety standards must be adapted to new requirements without research work being fundamentally inhibited by excessive safety measures. Politicians have already become active in this debate and new guidelines for regulating safety-relevant research are currently being discussed. In order to provide professional support for this exchange of ideas, the participation of the scientific community is particularly important. For this reason, the Society of Virology has formed a commission to accompany research with dual-use potential in virology.
The goals and work programme of this commission are:
To keep the virological scientific community informed about new developments and regulations as well as meetings and conferences in Germany, Europe and the USA on this topic.
To represent the interests of GfV members in the implementation of ethical guidelines and possible regulation of virological research with dual-use potential, e.g. by preparing statements.
To be the point of contact for researchers, the public and other bodies in the scientific community, such as the German Research Foundation and the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina.
To provide specialist expertise for the assessment of research projects with dual-use potential, e.g. within the framework of ad hoc working groups according to the concept of the DFG and Leopoldina Academy
To raise awareness among young scientists in the field of virology about freedoms and responsibilities in science.
The goals of the commission were defined by the commission members. The GfV board and advisory council have agreed to these goals.
Report "Faster than nature allows" (Rheinische Post)
Genetic engineering
The "Genetic Engineering" Commission is concerned with the risk assessment of microorganisms, safety classification of genetic engineering work, necessary safety measures in genetic engineering facilities and possible risks of a release or placing on the market of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) via the "Central Commission for Biological Safety" (ZKBS). Members of the commission represent the Virology Division in the ZKBS and hold the chair of the ZKBS.
Chair
Prof. Dr. med. Sigrun Smola
Institute of Virology
Saarland University Hospital
Building 47
D-66421 Homburg/Saar
Tel: +49 6841 16-23931
Fax: +49 6841 16-23980
Members
Prof. Dr. Anja Ehrhardt, Witten
Prof. Dr. Edgar Maiss, Hannover
Prof. Dr. Herbert Pfister, Cologne
Prof. Dr. Stefan Pöhlmann, Göttingen
Prof. Dr. Thomas Vahlenkamp, Leipzig (Deputy)
Further information
Higher education affairs, research funding, international relations
The Commission "University Affairs, Research Funding, International Relations" of the GfV represents the GfV in matters concerning university affairs, research funding issues and is responsible for the GfV's relations with international professional associations.
Chairman
Prof. Dr. med. Hartmut Hengel
Institute of Virology
University Hospital Freiburg
Hermann-Herder-Str. 11
79104 Freiburg
Tel: +49 (0)761 203 6534
Fax: +49 (0)761 203 6626
Members
Prof. Dr. Helmut Fickenscher, Kiel
Prof. Dr. Frank Kirchhoff, Ulm
Prof. Dr. Ulrike Protzer, Munich
Prof. Dr. Mirko Trilling, Essen
Members of the GfV Board
further information
Immunisation
The joint commission "Immunisation" of the DVV and GfV deals with the most diverse aspects of vaccinations against viral infections. In this function, the commission prepares statements for various federal institutions and informs the scientific community about current developments in the field of immunisation.
Chairman
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Matthias Tenbusch
Virological Institute - Clinical and Molecular Virology
University Hospital Erlangen
Schlossgarten 4
91054 Erlangen
Tel:+49 (0) 9131 - 85 26784
Vice Chairman
Prof. Dr. med. Klaus Überla
Virological Institute - Clinical and Molecular Virology
University Hospital Erlangen
Schlossgarten 4
91054 Erlangen
Tel: +49 (0) 9131 - 85 23563
Members
Prof. Dr. Eberhard Hildt, Langen
Prof. Dr. Heidemarie Holzmann, MD, Vienna
Prof. Dr Wolfgang Jilg, Regensburg
Prof. Dr Thomas Mertens, Ulm
Prof. Dr Klaus Osterrieder, Berlin
Prof. Dr Bodo Plachter, Mainz
Prof. Dr Herbert Pfister, Cologne
Dr Hedwig Roggendorf, Munich
Prof. Dr Jonas Schmidt-Chanasit, Hamburg
Prof. Dr Gerd Sutter, Munich
Prof. Dr Jörg Timm, Düsseldorf
Priv. Doz. Dr. Ole Wichmann, Berlin
Prof. Dr Dr Luka Cicin-Sain, Braunschweig (for the DGfI)
further information
Teaching, further education and training
The joint commission "Teaching, Continuing Education and Training" of the DVV and GfV represents the interests of the subject virology in teaching, continuing education and training. For this purpose, it participates in the creation and adaptation of laws, licensing regulations and further training and learning objective catalogues, among other things. In addition, the commission is responsible for the certificate "Fachvirologe" of the GfV.
Chairman
Prof. Dr. Helmut Fickenscher
Institute for Infectious Medicine
Christian-Albrecht-Universität zu Kiel
Brunswiker Str. 4
24105 Kiel
Tel: 0431 500 15300
Fax: 0431 500 15304
Members
Prof. Dr Elke Bogner, Berlin
Prof. Dr Hartmut Hengel, Freiburg
Prof. Dr Christian Jassoy, Leipzig
Prof. Dr Paul Schnitzler, Heidelberg
Prof. Dr Sigrun Smola, Homburg
Prof. Dr Jörg Timm, Düsseldorf
Further information - Certificate "Fachvirologe"
Curriculum of Society of Virology for obtaining the certificate in medical virology and infection epidemiology ("Fachvirologe")
Natural scientists experienced in medical virology and infection prevention from the field of life sciences and veterinarians can acquire the Certificate for Medical Virology and Infection Prevention on the basis of a catalogue of subjects by providing evidence of the relevant qualifications and successfully completing an oral expert interview before an examination board of the GfV. This certificate documents the corresponding professional competence and thus the qualification for the technical management of a laboratory of medical virology and, as far as legally permissible, also the medical release of technically validated results of virus diagnostics.
Further information - "BSL- Workshops
BSL workshops for "Professionals" are held at regular intervals.
For activities with biological agents from protection level 3 (Biosafety Level 3, BSL-3), the Biosubstances Ordinance requires one competent person per institution. The required further training in expertise can be demonstrated by participation in the BSL-3 workshop series. Experience in the BSL-3 laboratory is required.
Guidelines
The joint commission "Guidelines" of the DVV and GfV contributes virological expertise to the preparation and revision of guidelines that touch on virological topics. To this end, the commission carries out a screening of submitted guidelines. Another task of the commission is the identification of guideline topics that fall within the topic area of the GfV and where the GfV should initiate the preparation of its own guidelines.
Chairman
Prof. Dr. Jörg Timm
Institute of Virology
University Hospital Düsseldorf
Heinrich Heine University
Moorenstr. 5
40225 Düsseldorf
Tel: +49 (0) 211 - 81 12225
Members
Dr. Anne Cordes, Hannover
Prof. Dr. Anna-Maria Eis-Hübinger, Bonn
Prof. Dr. Helmut Fickenscher, Kiel
Dr. Daniela Huzly. Freiburg
Priv.-Doz. Andi Krumbholz, Kiel
Dr. Nadine Lübke, Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. Susanne Modrow, Regensburg
Prof. Dr. Hans-Helmut Niller, Regensburg
Prof. Dr. Marcus Panning, Freiburg
Dr. Susanne Pfefferle, Hamburg
Dr. Jürgen Rissland, Homburg (Saar)
Prof. Dr. Stefan Ross, Essen
Prof. Dr. Paul Schnitzler, Heidelberg
Further information
Medical guidelines are systematically developed aids for physicians for decision-making in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of diseases. The Society of Virology supports the creation of medical guidelines by actively participating in the development process or by coordinating the creation of guidelines as the lead professional society. The Society of Virology is involved in the following guidelines:
News and Views
The commission "News & Views" represents the GfV externally on Twitter @GesVirology, among others. In addition to its own GfV members and the scientific community, the commission also wants to inform the interested public. Furthermore, the commission advises GfV members who would like to publish their own News & Views statements via the GfV webpage and Twitter @GesVirologie.
Chairman
Dr. Marco Binder
Department "Virus-associated Carcinogenesis" (F170)
German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
69120 Heidelberg
Chairman
Max Delbrück Center
Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology
Hannoversche Street 28
10115 Berlin
Members
Prof. Dr. Judith Aberle, Vienna
Priv. Doz. Dr. Hanna-Mari Baldauf, Munich
Prof. Dr. Stephan Becker, Marburg
Prof. Dr. Melanie Brinkmann, Braunschweig
Dr. Linda Brunotte, Münster
Dr. Victor Corman, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Isabella Eckerle, Geneva
Prof. Dr. Gisa Gerold, Hannover
Prof. Dr. Volker Lohmann, Heidelberg
Dr. Björn Meyer, Magdeburg
Dr. Christin Müller, Gießen
Prof. Dr. Thomas Pietschmann, Hannover
Dr. Cornelius Rohde, Marburg
Prof. Dr. Michael Schindler, Tübingen
Prof. Dr. Beate Sodeik, Hannover
Prof. Dr. Mirko Trilling, Düsseldorf
Prof. Dr. Friedemann Weber, Gießen
The members of the board of the GfV
National Reference Centres (NRC) and Consultant Laboratories (CL) / virological surveillance
The commission "National Reference Centres and Consultant Laboratories / Virological Surveillance" organises the regular exchange with all virological NRCs and KLs. There is also a regular exchange with the non-virological NRCs/KLs via the "Permanent Working Group of NRCs/KLs of the DGHM". In addition, the Commission, in cooperation with the GfV Board, represents the concerns of NRZs and KLs vis-à-vis the Robert Koch Institute and the Federal Ministry of Health.
Chair
Prof. Dr. med. Ulrike Wieland
Institute for Virology
University Hospital Cologne (AöR)
National Reference Centre
for Papilloma and Polyoma Viruses
Fuerst-Pueckler-Strasse 56
50935 Cologne
Tel: +49-(0)221 - 478 858 10/ 858 01
Fax: +49-(0)221 - 478 858 04
Vice-ChairmanR
PD Dr. med. Albert Heim
Institute of Virology
Hannover Medical School
Consultant Laboratory for Adenoviruses
Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1
30625 Hannover
Tel.: +49 511-532-4311
Fax: +49 511 532 5732
Members
National Reference Centre for Hepatitis B and D Viruses, Gießen
National Reference Centre for Hepatitis C Viruses, Düsseldorf
National Reference Centre for Influenza, Berlin
National Reference Centre for Measles, Mumps, Rubella, Berlin
National Reference Centre for Papilloma and Polyoma Viruses, Cologne
National Reference Centre for Poliomyelitis and Enteroviruses, Berlin
National Reference Centre for Retroviruses, Munich
National Reference Centre for Tropical Infectious Agents, Hamburg
Consultant Laboratory for Adenoviruses, Hanover
Consultant Laboratory for Coronaviruses, Berlin
Consultant Laboratory for Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Ulm and Tübingen
Consultant laboratory for filoviruses, Marburg
Consultant laboratory for tick-borne encephalitis (TBE), Munich
Consultant laboratory for hantaviruses, Berlin
Consultant laboratory for hepatitis A virus (HAV) and hepatitis E virus (HEV), Regensburg
Consultant laboratory for herpes simplex virus (HSV) and varicella zoster virus (VZV), Freiburg
Consultant laboratory for noroviruses, Berlin
Consultant laboratory for parvoviruses, Stuttgart
Consultant laboratory for poxviruses, Berlin
Consultant laboratory for respiratory syncytial viruses (RSV), parainfluenza viruses, metapneumoviruses, Berlin
Consultant laboratory for rotaviruses, Berlin
Consultant laboratory for rabies, Essen
RKI - National reference centres and consultant laboratories
Further information
Virus disinfection
The joint commission "Virus Disinfection" of the DVV and GfV informs the scientific community about new aspects and methods of virus disinfection, collaborates on statements and guidelines and represents virological expertise in a wide range of federal authorities and institutions.
Chair
Priv. Doz. Dr. Maren Eggers
Labor Prof. Gisela Enders MVZ GbR
Head of Virology
Rosenbergstr. 85
70193 Stuttgart
Tel: +49 711 6357-130
Fax: +49 711 6357-202
Chairman
Friedrich Loeffler Institute
Deputy Head ATB, Head of Laboratory and Head of Bio-Bank
South shore 10
17493 Greifswald - Riems Island
Phone : +49 38351 7-1204, -1540
Fax : +49 38351 7-1524
Members
Prof. Dr. Dieter Glebe, Gießen
Dr. Martin Hufbauer, Cologne
PD Dr. Rachel Marschang, Stuttgart
Prof. Dr. Janis Müller, Marburg
Dr. Ingrid Rapp, Ochsenhausen
Dr. Inge Schwebke, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Eike Steinmann, Bochum
Dr. Jochen Steinmann, Bremen
Dr. Paula Zwicker, Greifswald
Permanent guests:
Dr. Franziska Brandt, Bonn (BfArM)
Prof. Dr. Nils-Olaf Hübner, Greifswald (DGKH e.V.)
Prof. Dr. Reimar Johne, Berlin (BfR)
Katharina Konrat, Berlin (RKI)
Prof. Dr. Uwe Truyen, Leipzig (DVG e.V.)
Dr. Viola Weinheimer, Dortmund (BAuA)
Further information
Virus diagnostics
The joint commission "Virus Diagnostics" of the DVV and GfV informs the scientific community about new aspects in virus diagnostics and represents virological expertise at various federal authorities, the Federal Medical Association as well as various Committees and develops statements on the current state of virus diagnostics. In the field of quality assurance, the commission works in close coordination with INSTAND e.V. and scientifically accompanies the interlaboratory tests in virus diagnostics.
Chairman
Prof. Dr Heinz Zeichhardt
IQVD GmbH
Institute for Quality Assurance in Virus Diagnostics
Potsdamer Chaussee 80
14129 Berlin
Tel: +49 30-81054301/302
Fax: +49 30-81054303
Chairman
Prof. Dr. Holger F. Rabenau
Ztrm. d. Hyg., Inst. f. Med. Virol.
Univ. Frankfurt
Paul-Ehrlich-Str. 40
60596 Frankfurt
Tel: +49 69 6301 5312
Fax: +49 69 6301 83061
Members
Meri Gorgievski, Bern
Klaus Hamprecht, Tübingen
Albert Heim, Hannover
Hartmut Hengel, Freiburg
Marcus Panning (representative)
Jörg Hofmann, Berlin
Thomas Mertens, Ulm
Stefan Roß, Essen
Christian G. Schüttler; Giessen
Dieter Glebe, Giessen (representative)
Barbara Schmidt; Regensburg
Jürgen Wenzel, Regensburg (representative)
Sigrun Smola, Homburg/Saar
Benedikt Weißbrich, Würzburg
Ulrike Wieland, Cologne
Lukas Weseslindtner, Vienna
Theresia Popow-Kraupp, Vienna (representative)
Further information
IVDR relevant documents
Annex 1 - appropriate forms in Word format
Annex 2 - appropriate forms in PDF format
Further sample declarations, among others on conformity, handouts on "Implementation of the general requirements for performance evaluation" and on risk management, as well as a checklist on the analogy between IVDR, Annex I and ISO 15189 have been prepared by other AWMF working groups and can be found at: https://www.awmf.org/die-awmf/Committees/nutzenbewertung/ad-hoc-kommission-bewertung-von-medizinprodukte/ad-hoc-kommission-in-vitro-diagnostik.html
Accreditation relevant documents
Viral infection during pregnancy
The joint commission "Viral Infection in Pregnancy" of the DVV and GfV contributes virological expertise to the preparation and revision of guidelines that touch on viral infections in pregnancy. It prepares statements on legislative procedures and represents virological expertise in the Committee on Maternity Protection, in particular in sub-committee II (material hazards) and the working group "Biological substances" located there.
Chair
Prof. Dr. Susanne Modrow
Inst. f. Med. Mikrob. u. Hyg.
University of Regensburg
Franz-Josef-Strauss-Allee 11
93053 Regensburg
Tel: 0941 944 6454
Fax: 0941 944 6402
Vice Chair
Dr. med. Daniela Huzly
University Hospital Freiburg
Institute of Virology
Hermann-Herder-Strasse 11
D-79104 Freiburg
Tel: 0761 203 6609
Fax: 0761 203 6603
Members
Dr. Martin Enders, Stuttgart
Prof. Dr. Annette Mankertz, Berlin
Prof. Dr. Markus Knuf, Mainz/Wiesbaden
Prof. Dr. Karl-Oliver Kagan, Tübingen (since 9/2016)
Prof. Dr. Thomas Mertens, Ulm
Prof. Dr. Ralf Bartenschlager (President GfV e.V.)
Prof. Dr. Helmut Fickenscher, Kiel (President DVV e.V.)
further information
Virus safety in transfusion and transplantation
The joint commission "Virus Safety in Transfusion and Transplantation" of the DVV and GfV deals with general and specific problems of virus safety in transfusion and TX and prepares recommendations on current aspects of virus safety. This is done in close contact with the relevant professional societies, expert committees, the RKI and the PEI.
Chairman
Prof. Dr. Dieter Glebe
Justus Liebig University Giessen
Institute of Medical Virology
Schubertstr. 81
35392 Giessen
Tel: +49 641 99 41246
Fax: +49 641 99 41209
Members
PD Dr. Johannes Blümel, PEI, Langen (deputy)
Prof. (ret.) Dr. Joachim Denner, FU Berlin
Prof. Dr. Dieter Glebe, JLU, Gießen (chair)
PD Dr. Sven Pischke, UKE, Hamburg
Prof. Dr. Eike Steinmann, RUB, Bochum
further information
Zoonoses and viral infections of animals
The Commission "Zoonoses and Virus Infections of Animals" is composed of representatives of the responsible federal authorities PEI, RKI and FLI, the National Research Platform for Zoonoses and representatives of the field of virology at the five veterinary medical educational institutions in Germany. It coordinates the GfV's cooperation with the federal authorities and the National Research Platform for Zoonoses and informs the scientific community about current topics in this field.
Chairman
Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Gerd Sutter
Institute for Infectious Medicine and Zoonoses, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine
LMU Munich
Veterinary St. 13
80539 Munich
Phone: +49 (0)89 2180 2514
Fax: +49 (0)89 2180 16576
Members
Prof. Dr Paul Becher, Hanover
Prof. Dr Klaus Cichutek, Langen
Prof. Dr Christian Drosten, Berlin
Prof. Dr Martin Groschup, Greifswald
Prof. Dr Stephan Ludwig, Münster
Prof. Dr Thomas C. Mettenleiter, Greifswald
Prof. Dr Klaus Osterrieder, Berlin
Prof. Dr Martin Schwemmle, Freiburg
Prof. Dr Gerd Sutter, Munich
Prof. Dr Friedemann Weber, Gießen
Further information
Contact
Questions, feedback, suggestions and requests for the development of Committees and its tools can be sent by mail to the e-mail address geschaeftsstelle@g-f-v.org.