North German Science Prize for the DEEP-DV Research Group

The DFG-funded DEEP-DV research consortium (“Disrupt – Evade – Exploit: Gene Expression and Manipulation of the Host Response in DNA Virus Infections”) (https://deep-dv.org/wp/) has been awarded the 2026 North German Science Award in recognition of its cross-state research collaboration. Jointly led by Nicole Fischer (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf) and Melanie Brinkmann (Braunschweig University of Technology), the consortium investigates how DNA viruses evade the immune system and establish lifelong persistence in the body. DEEP-DV brings together researchers from Hamburg, Hanover, Braunschweig, Berlin, Regensburg, Ulm, Freiburg, and Munich. Since 2012, the German states of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein have presented the North German Science Award in recognition of collaborative research projects across a range of disciplines. This year’s award focuses on the life sciences. Three projects were honored, each receiving €83,333 in prize money.

The DFG-funded research consortium DEEP-DV (“Disrupt – Evade – Exploit: Gene Expression and Manipulation of the Host Response in DNA Virus Infections”) (https://deep-dv.org/wp/de/) has been awarded the 2026 North German Science Prize for its cross-state research collaboration. Under the joint leadership of Nicole Fischer (University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf) and Melanie Brinkmann (Technical University of Braunschweig), the consortium investigates how DNA viruses evade the immune system and persist in the body for life. DEEP-DV brings together researchers from Hamburg, Hanover, Braunschweig, Berlin, Regensburg, Ulm, Freiburg, and Munich. Since 2012, the federal states of Bremen, Hamburg, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, and Schleswig-Holstein have used this award to recognize joint research projects spanning various scientific disciplines. This year’s focus is on the life sciences. Three projects were honored, each receiving prize money of 83,333 euros.