The “Loeffler Lecture” on current virological research topics is meant to commemorate Friedrich Loeffler’s breakthrough achievements in virology and regularly brings renowned researchers to Greifswald, including e.g.:
- 2023: Professor Marion Koopmans, Ph.D., Erasmus Universität Rotterdam
Lecture title: "From emerging diseases response to prevention: is it possible?" - 2022: Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. Thomas C. Mettenleiter, Insel Riems/Greifswald
Lecture title: "Friedrich Loeffler – Virusjäger" - 2021: Professor Dr. Ralf Bartenschlager, Heidelberg
Lecture title: "Hepatitis C und COVID-19: Die „stille“ und die „laute“ Pandemie" - 2019: Professor Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Jörg Hacker, Berlin
Lecture title: "Infektionsbekämpfung - 100 Jahre nach Friedrich Löffler" - 2018: Professor Dr. Curtis Suttle, PhD, Vancouver
Lecture title: "Virus Sculptors of the Planet" - 2017: Professor Franz X. Heinz, PhD, Vienna
Lecture title: "Von Gelbfieber zu Zika: Globale Bedrohungen durch Flaviviren" - 2016: Professor Geoffrey L. Smith, Cambridge
Lecture title: "Smallpox eradication, post eradication policies, and new findings with an old vaccine" - 2015: Professor Dr. Marian Horzinek and Professor Dr. Harald zur Hausen
Lecture title: “Commemorative event on the 100th anniversary of Friedrich Loeffler’s death - 2014: Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. mult. Rolf M. Zinkernagel, Zurich
Lecture title: "Immunabwehr gegen Viren" - 2013: Professor Eckard Wimmer, Stony Brook University, New York
Lecture title: "Synthetische Viren - Leben aus der Retorte?" - 2012: Professor Ron Fouchier, Erasmus University, Rotterdam
Lecture title: "The influenza virus riddle - pandemic potential or not?"
Since 2012, it typically has taken place close to his birthday in June. Friedrich Loeffler, who discovered foot-and-mouth disease and founded virus research, was born on 24 June 1852 in Frankfurt/Oder. After studying medicine in Würzburg and Berlin, he worked together with Robert Koch. In 1888, Loeffler was appointed as the newly established Chair of Hygiene in Greifswald. In 1898, together with Paul Frosch he described a virus for the first time as a filterable but particulate infectious agent using the example of foot-and-mouth disease. On 10 October 1910, on the island of Riems he founded the world’s first institute for viral research, which today is named after him, the Friedrich Loeffler Institute.