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 (Technical University of Braunschweig), 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 a prize of 83,333 euros.