HZI Researcher Max Kellner Wins Life Sciences PhD Award Austria 2025
Dr. Max Kellner has been awarded the Life Sciences PhD Award Austria 2025 in the category of applied research for his doctoral work conducted at the Institute for Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA) in Vienna. The jury lauded his progress of a portable, open-source test capable of detecting viruses in under an hour, even in locations with limited or unreliable power access, describing it as “science that fits into a backpack and protects health for the most endangered communities.”
Kellner’s research extends beyond rapid diagnostics, focusing on understanding why certain animals, like bats, can carry deadly pathogens without exhibiting illness. Utilizing organoid systems – miniature,lab-grown organs derived from bat tissue – he has identified potential defense mechanisms within bats,revealing natural alarm systems that respond more quickly and effectively than those in humans. These findings suggest novel approaches to treating viral infections in humans and harnessing natural resistance for medical advancements.The jury praised kellner’s work as “a rare combination of ingenuity and empathy.”
Since May 2025, Dr.Kellner has led the Young Group “Laboratory for Virus-Wirt-KO-Evolution” (Vico) within the Human program at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI).the Vico group continues to investigate resilience mechanisms that have evolved through the co-evolution of viruses and their hosts. This research aims to understand why infections often remain asymptomatic in natural reservoir hosts, while causing severe disease in other species, including humans. Vico utilizes organoid systems to examine virus-host interactions across different species under near-physiological conditions.
The award was presented at the annual conference of the ÖGMBT (Austrian Society for Biotechnology and Life Sciences), Austria’s leading life sciences event, which represents 1,300 researchers and students, alongside 90 companies and institutions. ÖGMBT President Priv. Doz. Dr. Michael Sauer highlighted the awards as evidence of the high international caliber of Austrian research, and expressed gratitude to long-term supporters BMWET, Boehringer Ingelheim RCV, and Polymun Scientific.