Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Stefan H.E. KaufmannFounding Director Max-Planck-Institute for Infection Biology Berlin, Germany

    Prof. Dr Dr h.c. Stefan H. E. Kaufmann is (founding) director of the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biologyin Berlin and head of the Department of Immunology. He is professor for microbiology and immunology at the Charité University Clinics Berlin.

    Prof. Kaufmann is former president of the German Society for Immunology, former president of the European Federation of Immunological Societies (EFIS) and  of the International Union of Immunological Societies (IUIS). He is past member of the Advisory Board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) and  is member of the Strategic Advisory Committee of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP).

    Born 1948 in Ludwigshafen am Rhein, Prof. Kaufmann studied biology at the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, 1977 PhD (highest degree, summa cum laude). He was professor for medical microbiology and immunology (1987-1991) and full professor for immunology at the University of Ulm (1991-1998). His scientific interests are: immunity to bacterial pathogens with emphasis on tuberculosis and rational vaccine and biomarker design.

    Prof. Kaufmann initiated the Day of Immunology to raise public awareness in immunology. He has received numerous scientific awards. He is member of the European Molecular Biology Organization, the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the German National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina. He is Honorary Member of the German Society for Immunology. He received the Doctor Honoris Causa from Université de la Mediterranée, Aix-Marseille II.

    He is coordinator of several international and interdisciplinary projects including Grand Challenge 6 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

    Prof. Kaufmann has more than 700 publications mostly in high-ranking journals. He is editor or member of editorial boards of more than 20 international scientific journals, member of various professional societies.