On 14 March 2025, this year’s ADF/ECARF Award was presented at the 51st meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF). The winners received an award worth 5,000 euros for the discovery of a possible important function of an antimicrobial protein in atopic dermatitis.
ATOPIC DERMATITIS: ANTIMICROBIAL PROTEIN (RNASE 7) SUPPORTS ANTIVIRAL RESPONSE AGAINST HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS
ANTIVIRAL REACTION AGAINST HERPES SIMPLEX VIRUS TYPE 1 (HSV-1)
The Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterised by an impaired skin barrier – a dysregulation of the immune system and an imbalance of the skin microbiome. The risk of infection, such as that caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), is increased.
NEW UNDERSTANDING OF THE REGULATORY MECHANISMS IN SKIN IMMUNITY
This new finding opens up new avenues for therapy. ‘We have already shown that the antimicrobial protein RNase 7 in the presence of self-DNA promotes an immune response that protects the keratinocytes from herpes simplex virus type 1 infection,’ explains Dr Katinka Döhner, working group led by Prof. Dr Thomas Werfel, Hannover Medical School, Department of Dermatology, Allergology and Venereology.
In addition, R7 inhibits HSV-1 infection in higher, but still physiological concentrations – even without the addition of self-DNA. For this, they were honoured with the ADF/ECARF Award at the 2025Annual Meeting of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF).
‘This year, we have once again succeeded in honouring groundbreaking work with the ADF/ECARF Award for European Allergy Research,’ says Professor Torsten Zuberbier, Chairman of the Board of Trustees. ‘The researchers have achieved important results that could play a key role in the future treatment of herpes simplex virus type 1 in atopic dermatitis. I warmly congratulate the award winners and can only encourage them to continue this outstanding work.’
The European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation (ECARF) and the Association for Dermatological Research (ADF) want to motivate further research in the field of allergology. Since 2005, they have jointly organised the ‘ADF/ECARF Award’, sponsored by ECARF. The prize is endowed with 5,000 euros and is awarded annually. The winner is selected by a jury during the ADF annual conference
About ECARF
The ECARF Foundation has been awarding the ECARF Seal of Quality, the only Europe-wide certificate for allergy-friendly products, environments and services, on the basis of scientific quality criteria since 2006. The foundation also provides targeted support at European level for allergological research and initiatives to improve the medical treatment of allergic diseases and establishes educational campaigns on the subject of allergies for children, young people, teachers and educators. ecarf.org
About ADF
The aim of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Dermatologische Forschung (ADF) is to promote research in the field of dermatology and related fields, in particular interdisciplinary and supraregional cooperation in German-speaking countries. The ADF is particularly committed to the support and advancement of young scientists in dermatological research and awards a number of prizes and scholarships for this purpose. The ADF is affiliated with the German Dermatological Society (DDG). https://www.adf-online.de/
Press contact:
Stefanie Link, Head of Communication, ECARF
Robert-Koch-Platz 7, 10115 Berlin
T.: +49 (0)30 857 48 94 25 / M.: +49 (0)151 227 808 11