The Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-associated Diseases is located in Institute Group 1 (IG1) on the campus of the University Hospital Essen and is part of the Medical Faculty of the University of Duisburg-Essen.

A precursor of the current Institute was founded in 2016 by Professor Hendrick Streeck. Following his transition to the University of Bonn, retrovirologist and current President of the German Society for Virology (GfV), Professor Ulf Dittmer, together with experienced HIV/AIDS clinician and venereologist and current President of the German AIDS Society (DAIG), Professor Stefan Esser, took over the leadership of the institute in 2019. Subsequently, the institute was restructured with a new team and a new name to emphasize the scientific focus on translational research. The integration of several research and junior research groups, including two led by junior professors, has created a research environment for young and innovative HIV research.

At the end of 2023, Professor Mirko Trilling, Head of the Institute, and Professor Stefan Esser, Deputy Head of the Institute, took over the management of the Institute. To reflect the complex clinical picture of HIV infection in the context of frequent co- and superinfections, the Institute was officially named the Institute for the Research on HIV and AIDS-associated Diseases (HIV-AAD). The HIV-AAD conducts a wide range of innovative research focusing on HIV infection, AIDS, and AIDS-associated diseases. Particular emphasis is placed on the link between translational and reverse translational basic research and clinical research.

The HIV-AAD is a center dedicated to the study of HIV and AIDS. In addition to the direct investigation of HIV, it focuses on the interplay with relevant super-, co-, and opportunistic infections, such as those caused by herpesviruses such as cytomegalovirus. To this end, translational basic research and clinical research are closely integrated. The research aims to provide knowledge that will support the following developments in the medium to long term:

- The development of prophylactic and/or therapeutic vaccines against retroviruses such as HIV.

- The optimization of existing antiviral therapy regimens and treatment strategies.

- The improvement of pre- and/or post-exposure prophylaxis.

- The identification of new drug targets and the development of new treatment options for people living with retroviral infections.

- The development of approaches aimed at curing, ideally completely, retroviral infections.

- To study the interactions between retroviruses and other pathogens (e.g., herpesviruses) that pose a threat to immunosuppressed people, such as AIDS patients.

To achieve the best possible results, we work closely with regional, national, and international researchers who also work with viruses, as well as with scientists and doctors from other fields. The work and mission of the HIV-AAD is supported by a Scientific Advisory Board consisting of renowned experts in various fields of research: Professor Dunja Bruder, Professor Klaus Überla, Professor Georg Behrens and Professor Jan Münch.

The HIV-AAD is committed to the promotion of young researchers and provides basic and specialized knowledge on retroviruses, HIV, AIDS and AIDS-associated diseases to biologists, biomedical scientists, and physicians as part of their education and training. In addition to theoretical knowledge, we teach a variety of virological, immunological, biochemical, molecular, and cell biological techniques. We also work on the development and optimization of diagnostic tests.

We study immune responses to retroviruses and AIDS-associated pathogens with the aim of preventing HIV infections and better controlling or even curing past infections. In addition to clinical studies, cell culture, and organoid systems, we also use murine retrovirus models (Prof. Ulf Dittmer, PD Kathrin Sutter and Junior Professor Elisabeth Littwitz-Salomon) and/or murine herpesvirus models (Dr. Khanh Le-Trilling and Prof. Mirko Trilling).

Dr Kathrin Sutter's team is investigating the antiviral effects of different interferon-alpha subtypes. While our bodies can produce about a dozen of these interferons to coordinate immune responses against pathogens, only one interferon-alpha subtype is currently used therapeutically. Data from Essen show that certain interferon subtypes have superior virus-specific antiviral effects and strongly modulate the host immune response in various models. The reasons for these differences are being investigated.

To optimize the functions of the initial cellular immune response for therapeutic purposes, the group led by Juniorprofessor Elisabeth Littwitz-Salomon studies various antiviral functions of natural killer cells, particularly in the context of their metabolic reprogramming and iron uptake.

The group of Dr Hannah Schwarzer-Sperber and Dr Roland Schwarzer is developing strategies to identify and characterize latently infected cells. The aim is to develop concepts, based on a deep molecular understanding of the HIV reservoir that allow the elimination of these infected cells, leading to a permanent cure. The group recently discovered an important marker for latently infected cells.

Juniorprofessor Dr Christina Karsten and her group are investigating the protective properties of antibodies against HIV, beyond the known neutralizing effect, and how different sugar modifications of viral surface proteins affect the properties of the virus and its recognition by antibodies.

The physician Lara Schöler and the scientist Dr Khanh Le-Trilling are investigating how an HIV infection influences herpesvirus infections, in particular with regard to antibody responses and antibody effector functions (e.g., antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and virus neutralization).

Professor Mirko Trilling's group focuses on protein complexes that are repurposed by various viruses, such as HIV and herpesviruses, to help them evade our immune system. The team is working on pharmacological inhibitors of these protein complexes with the aim of developing new antiviral drugs.

Since 1985, University Hospital Essen has been providing inpatient and outpatient care for people living with HIV. Over the years, the HIV outpatient clinic, which treats about 2,000 people a year, has become the largest center for HIV and AIDS patients in the Ruhr area and the largest clinic participating in the North Rhine-Westphalia AIDS agreement. Outpatient care is provided by the HPSTD (HIV/AIDS, Proctology and STD [sexually transmitted diseases] Clinic; Director: Professor Stefan Esser) within the Department of Dermatology and Venereology (Director: Professor Dirk Schadendorf), while inpatient care is mainly provided by the Department of Infectiology (Director: Professor Oliver Witzke). Clinically, psychosocially and scientifically, the HPSTD outpatient clinic cooperates with various interdisciplinary and inter-institutional partners.

At the University Hospital Essen, the HIV-AAD is part of the West German Centre for Infectious Diseases (WZI), an umbrella organization that brings together all institutes and clinics within the University Hospital Essen that are involved in the research, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of infectious diseases. The integration of the HIV-AAD into the WZI strengthens the active exchange and joint research with other departments, especially virology, immunology, and infectious diseases.

The HIV-AAD also collaborates with the biomedical research industry, including ViiV Healthcare, Gilead Sciences, MSD, Janssen, and GSK. This includes industry-funded research projects initiated by HIV-AAD researchers, as well as contract research to improve treatment options for people living with HIV.

Members of the HIV-AAD are active in numerous professional societies (including ASM, DAGNÄ, IAS, DDG, DGfI, DGI, SFG) and hold board or executive positions in some of them (DAIG, DSTIG, GfV). In addition, through its Deputy Director, Prof. Stefan Esser, the Institute supports the State AIDS Commission of North Rhine-Westphalia, contributes to the work of the KV Examination Committee for the AIDS Agreement and integrates the AIDS-Hilfe-Essen into its patient care.