Prof. Dr. Josef Penninger

My Research Interest in RESIST

Our department „Innovative Organoid Research“ leverages advanced technologies to deepen our understanding of host-pathogen interactions. Our focus is on utilizing organoids, which are three-dimensional models that accurately mimic human organs. These organoids, produced with high reproducibility and scalability thanks to state-of-the-art robotic systems, ensure consistency across experiments and enhance our capacity for larger studies.
The organoid models developed at HZI are versatile, enabling us to complexify studies by incorporating various cellular components for a more accurate simulation of human tissues. This approach is essential for studying infections, testing vaccines, and developing new therapeutic strategies. A substantial part of our research involves using effector proteins to explore host-pathogen interactions. These proteins are crucial in influencing host cellular functions to favor pathogen survival and proliferation.
Through these innovative approaches, our department aims to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application, providing new insights into disease mechanisms and potential treatments.

Prof. Penninger

Prof. Dr. Josef Penninger – Curriculum Vitae

Current Position

  • Since 2023 Scientific Director, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Training

  • 1982 – 1990 Human Medicine, University of Innsbruck, Medical School, Austria

  • 1986 – 1990 Medical Doctorate (Dr. med.), in Immunology as part of Medical School at the Institute for General and Experimental Pathology (Prof. Dr. G. Wick), University of Innsbruck, Austria

  • 1990 – 1994 Postdoctoral fellow, The Ontario Cancer Institute, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada

Academic and Research Posts

  • 1994 – 1999 Assistant Professor, Departments of Immunology and Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada

  • 1994 – 2002 Principal Investigator, Amgen Institute, 620 University Avenue, Toronto, Canada

  • 1999 – 2002 Associate Professor, Departments of Immunology and Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada

  • 1994 – 2003 Associate Scientist, The Ontario Cancer Institute, Dept. of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, Canada

  • 2002 – 2004 Full Professor, Departments of Immunology and Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Canada

  • 2002 – 2018 Founding Director, Institute of Molecular Biotechnology of the Austrian Academy of Sciences (IMBA), Vienna, Austria

  • 2004 – 2018 Honorary Professor in Genetics, University of Vienna, Austria

  • 2018 – 2023 Director, Life Sciences Institute, University of British Columbia, Canada

  • 2024 Doctorate, PhD, Medical Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Japan

Other Scientific Roles

  • 2001 Honorary member of the Golden Key International Honor Society

  • 2004 Elected to the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina

  • 2007 Elected as the youngest full member to the Austrian Academy of Sciences

  • 2008 Elected as EMBO member

  • 2009 Elected to the Academy of Europe (Academia Europaea)

  • 2009 Elected member – European Research Institute for Integrated Cellular Pathology (ERI–ICP)

  • 2010 Elected member – European Academy for Tumor Immunology (EATI)

  • 2012 Elected AAAS Fellow for “efforts on behalf of the advancement of science or its applications are scientifically or socially distinguished”

  • 2015 Elected Member – European Academy of Sciences and Arts

Awards and Prizes

  • 2021 Allen Distinguished Investigator

  • 2020 Austrian of the Year, International Success category

  • 2020 Chosen #30 by OOOM 100: The Most Inspiring People in the World

  • 2019 Honorary Professor, Qingdao University, China

  • 2018 Canada 150 Research Chair in Functional Genetics

  • 2018 Austria Order of Merit for Arts and Sciences

  • 2017 CEE Innovation Award (AtoS Austria)

  • 2015 Among the 400 most influential Thought Leaders in the world
    (#11 in German speaking countries https://www.nachrichten.at/)

  • 2014 Wittgenstein Prize (highest Austrian Science Award)

  • 2012 Innovator Award of the US Department of Defense (USD 7,400,000)

  • 2009 Medal of The Australian Society for Medical Research (ASMR)

  • 2009 ESCI Award by the European Society for Clinical Investigation

  • 2008 Karl Landsteiner Prize of the Austrian Society of Immunology and Allergology

  • 2008 Among 1000 most important Austrian immigrant/emigrants in politics, arts,
    sports, philosophy, business or music from 1900-2008

  • 2008 Carus Prize of the City of Schweinfurt

  • 2007 Ernst Jung Prize for Medicine

  • 2006 Descartes Prize (the highest EU research prize)

  • 2005 Designation of the asteroid 48801 as Penninger

Recommended Links

For further information about Prof. Penninger’s scientific work please check the following links:

10 Selected Publications

Zhu, R., D. Canena, M. Sikora, M. Klausberger, H. Seferovic, A. R. Mehdipour, L. Hain, E. Laurent, V. Monteil, G. Wirnsberger, R. Wieneke, R. Tampé, N. F. Kienzl, L. Mach, A. Mirazimi, Y. J. Oh, J. M. Penninger, G. Hummer, P. Hinterdorfer. 2022. Force-tuned avidity of spike variant-ACE2 interactions viewed on the single-molecule level. Nat Commun 13: 7926. PMID: 36566234

Paolino M., R. Koglgruber, S. J. F. Cronin, I. Uribesalgo, E. Rauscher, J. Harreiter, M. Schuster, D. Bancher-Todesca, B. Pranjic, M. Novatchkova, J. P. Fededa, A. J. White, V. Sigl, S. Dekan, T. Penz, C. Bock, L. Kenner, G. A. Holländer, G. Anderson, A. Kautzky-Willer, J. M. Penninger. 2021. RANK links thymic regulatory T cells to fetal loss and gestational diabetes in pregnancy. Nature 589: 442-447. PMID: 33361811

Monteil V., H. Kwon, P. Prado, A. Hagelkrüys, R. A. Wimmer, M. Stahl, A. Leopoldi, E. Garreta, C. Hurtado Del Pozo, F. Prosper, J. P. Romero, G. Wirnsberger, H. Zhang, A. S. Slutky, R. Conder, N. Montserrat, A. Mirazimi, J. M. Penninger. 2020. Inhibition of SARS-CoV-2 Infections in Engineered Human Tissues Using Clinical-Grade Soluble Human ACE2. Cell 181:905-913. PMID: 32333836

Wimmer R. A., A. Leopoldi, M. Aichinger, N. Wick, B. Hantusch, M. Novatchkova, J. Taubenschmid, M. Hämmerle, C. Esk, J. A. Bagley, D. Lindenhofer, G. Chen, M. Boehm, C. A. Agu, F. Yang, B. Fu, J. Zuber, J. A. Knoblich, D. Kerjaschki, J. M. Penninger. 2019. Human blood vessel organoids as a model of diabetic vasculopathy. Nature 565: 505-510. PMID: 39651639

Elling U., R. A. Wimmer, A. Leibbrandt, T. Burkard, G. Michlits, A. Leopoldi, T. Micheler, D. Abdeen, S. Zhuk, I. M. Aspalter, C. Handl, J. Liebergesell, M. Hubmann, A.-M. Husa, M. Kinzer, N. Schuller, E. Wetzel, N. van de Loo, J. A. Zepeda Martinez, D. Estoppey, R. Riedl, F. Yang, B. Fu, T. Dechat, Z. Ivics, C. A. Agu, O. Bell, D. Blaas, H. Gerhardt, D. Hoepfner, A. Stark, J. M. Penninger. 2017. A reversible haploid murine embryonic stem cell biobank resource for functional genomics. Nature 550: 114-118. PMID: 28953874

Stadlmann J, J. Taubenschmid, D. Wenzel, A. Gattinger, G. Dürnberger, F. Dusberger, U. Elling, L. Mach, K. Mechtler, J. M. Penninger. 2017. Comparative glycoproteomics of stem cells identifies new players in ricin toxicity. Nature 549: 538-542. PMID: 28959962

Hashimoto T, T. Perlot, A. Rehman, J. Trichereau, H. Ishiguro, M. Paolino, V. Sigl, T. Hanada, S. Lipinski, B. Wild, S. M. R. Camargo, D. Singer, A. Richter, K. Kuba, A. Fukamizu, S. Schreiber, H. Clevers, F. Verrey, P. Rosenstiel, J. M Penninger. 2012. ACE2 links amino acid malnutrition to microbial ecology and intestinal inflammation. Nature 487:477-81. PMID: 22837003

Imai Y., K. Kuba, S. Rao, Y. Huan, F. Guo, B. Guan, P. Yang, R. Sarao, T. Wada, H. Leong-Poi, M. A. Crackower, A. Fukamizu, C.-C. Hui, L. Hein, S. Uhlig, A. S. Slutsky, C. Jiang, J. M. Penninger. 2005. The SARS-coronavirus receptor ACE2 protects from severe acute lung failure. Nature 436: 112-116. PMID: 16001071

Crackower M., R. Sarao, G. Y. Oudit, C. Yagil, I. Kozieradzki, S. E. Scanga, A. J. Oliveira-dos-Santos, J. da Costa, L. Zhang, Y. Pei, J. Scholey, C. M. Ferrario, A. S. Manoukian, M.C. Chappell, P. H. Backx, Y. Yagil, J. M. Penninger. 2002. Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 is an essential regulator of heart function. Nature 417:822-828. PMID: 12075344

Kong Y., U. Feige, I. Sarosi, B. Bolon, A. Tafuri, S. Morony, C. Capparelli, J. Li, R. Elliott, S. McCabe, T. Wong, G. Campagnuolo, E. Moran, E. R. Bogoch, G. Van, L. T. Nguyen, P. S. Ohashi, D. L. Lacey, E. Fish, W. J. Boyle, J. M. Penninger. 1999. Activated T cells regulate bone loss and joint destruction in adjuvant arthritis through osteoprotegerin ligand. Nature 402:304-309. PMID: 10580503

Contact

  Prof. Dr. Josef Penninger
Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research
  Inhoffenstraße 7
38124 Braunschweig
  +49 532 6181 – 1000
  josef.penninger@
helmholtz-hzi.de