Research campaigns

The project "Virological and Immunological Determinants of COVID-19 Pathogenesis - Lessons for Preparing for Future Pandemics" (CoViPa) investigates the microbiological mechanisms by which the SARS-CoV-2 virus triggers disease processes in the body. To this end, seven Helmholtz centers have joined forces with partners from academia and industry. The researchers not only want to develop effective strategies for containing the current pandemic, but also refine the medical applications of robotics and high-throughput data analysis. They can be used, for example, to identify which other viruses carry the risk of spreading from animals to humans. The CoViPa team's findings will thus help us to be better prepared for future pandemic outbreaks.

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The project "Airborne transmission of the SARS coronavirus - from basic research to efficient air purification systems" (CORAERO) studies virus transmission through aerosols and droplets. Seven Helmholtz centers pool their expertise for this purpose with partners from universities, university clinics and industry. The project investigates the conditions under which the SARS-CoV-2 virus remains viable for a particularly long time on surfaces or in aerosols. The researchers hope to use the findings to develop technologies and devices that effectively stop the spread of the virus, for example in schools, businesses and on public transport.

We fund each of these campaigns with ca. 17 million euros over a period of around five years. We always conduct our research in an interdisciplinary network and involve scientific partners.

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The project "Local Early Warning System for Infection Outbreak Control" (LOKI) aims to better prevent and control infection outbreaks. To this end, five Helmholtz centers are developing early warning software together with partners from the public health sector. The software will help public health authorities detect local outbreaks at an early stage, model the probable course of the outbreak, and help inform appropriate regional measures. To this end, the researchers are compiling a vast wealth of data, ensuring that they are stored securely in accordance with data protection laws, as well as designing innovative computer models for analysis. LOKI is also monitoring global pandemic activity to identify particularly effective approaches and behaviors in other regions of the world.

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COping CAPacity of nations facing systemic crisis – a global intercomparison exploring the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic is a global crisis with enormous economic, social and environmental consequences. There is a broad consensus that the next pandemic is likely to be caused by a SARS-type virus again. Consequently, itis important to explore how to increase the coping capacity of nations facing such a systemic crisis in the future.

Based on a comprehensive and robust coupled epidemiological and socio-economic model system our project focuses on the key question: What are the essential success factors in coping with the present SARS-CoV-2 pandemic among nations and how can coping capacities be increased in various national configurations to better handle similar future crises?

The project will analyze the SARS-CoV-2 data at a global scale and subsequently select 6-10 nations in the OECD, Asia and Africa for a more detailed investigation. These analyses will be extremely relevant for policy makers, health agencies, technology developers and also the responsible community leaders who are responseable for  prevention and intervention measures for similar future pandemics.      

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Industrial processes are inevitably associated with the generation of fine dust and fine-grained residues. These rarely find their way back into the industrial supply chain and often represent a huge environmental burden. FINEST researchers are combining expertise from four Helmholtz centers and two universities to address this challenge. They recycle various mineral, metallic and microplastic residues into valuable raw materials through optimized processes. Where this is not possible, they convert the particles into harmless waste. In order to quickly transfer the concepts developed in this way, FINEST cooperates closely with partners from industry and society.

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Agriculture faces two major challenges: 1) it must increase its productivity to feed a growing global population, and 2) it must reduce its considerable ecological burden, on land, but also in the oceans.

The iFOODis consortium, consisting of five Helmholtz centers and the Jacobs University Bremen, therefore, aims to use robotic and sensory monitoring systems to improve future food supply, while ensuring it is sustainable, socio-economically compatible and resource-efficient. In the Schlei model region, the researchers are developing measures to better protect ecosystems on land and in the water. They are also developing strategies for sustainable land use and fishery management.

To this end, they are researching autonomous and semi-autonomous robot networks that use new types of prediction models. Locally generated measurement data from coastal and agricultural areas are intelligently networked with measurement data from aerial and satellite monitoring. These technologies will enable robots to increase efficiency in future sustainable and diversified agriculture. These systems are also ideal for transporting food and materials to isolated, hard-to-reach regions.

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The latest report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has shown that merely reducing CO2 emissions is no longer enough to achieve the COP21 targets. We must also capture emissions that have already been produced and store them long-term. Six Helmholtz centers, in cooperation with the Technical University of Berlin, want to research technical solutions for capturing CO₂ from the air and storing it in geological formations. The aim of the project is to support a socially, ecologically and economically sustainable ramp-up of this technology worldwide. It can be used to effectively reduce non-avoidable emissions of greenhouse gases. Our researchers also advise decision makers from industry, politics and society on this new technology.

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