Vision and Scientific Rationale

A comprehensive understanding of viruses—including their diversity, pathogenic potential, and host tropism—requires advanced bioinformatic and photonic tools. Although Germany hosts internationally recognised expertise in virology, bioinformatics, and photonics, sustained and systematic integration of these disciplines has so far been limited, with notable exceptions such as HIV-1, Influenza A virus, and SARS-CoV-2.

VirusREvolution addresses this gap by leading the development of specialised bioinformatic and photonic tools explicitly tailored to virus research. By uniting cutting-edge computational, photonic, and experimental expertise, the CRC establishes a framework for the systematic characterisation of both known and newly emerging viruses.

A central principle of VirusREvolution is the continuous interaction between method development and real-world application. This iterative approach ensures that novel tools are rapidly validated, refined, and deployed, thereby accelerating virus research and strengthening preparedness for future outbreaks.

Targeted recruitment over the past decade has positioned Friedrich Schiller University Jena, together with its surrounding non-university research institutes, as an internationally competitive and uniquely suited location for VirusREvolution in Germany.