Scientific cooperation in HamburgUKE Joins PIER PLUS Research Alliance

Photo: UKE

Entrance to the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf

Since its founding in 2019, PIER PLUS has continued to grow. The University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf has now become the 23rd member of this alliance of universities and research institutions in Hamburg. The UKE will now cooperate in the alliance’s 6 research profiles and 4 common areas of activity.

Previously, UKE members had been involved in individual projects, especially in PIER’s health and infection research, which includes work on infections, their emergence, prevention, and treatment. They have also contributed significantly to PIER Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld.

“In a university and research landscape that is constantly changing, cooperative and interdisciplinary collaboration is more important than ever, also for us as Universität Hamburg—University of Excellence. Our long-term vision for PIER PLUS is clear: we want to create a collaborative, innovative climate in Hamburg that makes excellent research possible while tackling the day’s most urgent questions. This is why I am especially delighted to welcome the UKE as a partner in PIER PLUS,” said Prof. Dr. Hauke Heekeren, president of the University of Hamburg.

“PIER PLUS is a platform that advances cooperation among Hamburg’s universities and non-university research institutes. The UKE has been supporting this process from the outset, in PIER infection and health research and in PIER Science City Hamburg Bahrenfeld, to the development of which we are making our own contributions. To this end, I am delighted that the UKE is now formally involved as a visible partner in PIER PLUS,” said Prof. Dr. Christian Gerloff, medical director and chair of the UKE.

Prof. Dr. Blanche-Schwappach-Pignatoro, member of the UKE board and spokesperson for PIER Health and Infection, added: “The UKE’s formal membership personally delights me and is only logical: UKE researchers actively work in PIER Health and Infection, and MediGate GmbH, a UKE subsidiary, also extensively supports activities in the common PIER research area for innovation and knowledge exchange.”