Prof. Dr. Julia Port leads the research group “Laboratory of Transmission Immunology” at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig, a position she has held since May 2024 with a Helmholtz Young Investigator Grant. Her research focuses on mucosal and respiratory transmission of viruses. Her group studies how the site of initial virus replication, immune responses, and mucus composition determine whether viruses are released into the air or bodily secretions, and how pre-existing immunity affects onward transmission. Her SARS-CoV-2 work includes experimental evidence of transmission through fine aerosols and shows how variant transmission depends on replication in the upper airways. In ViReST, she leads work on airway culture systems and on tracing airborne virus to its anatomical origin. She also leads the ONEMUC subproject on mucus as a barrier to zoonotic influenza transmission. Her research has received NIH Director’s and Merit Awards.
