New Antiviral Agents; Public Talk by Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kupke

Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kupke, Vortragsreihe "Wissenschaft im Rathaus"

Date: Sep 29, 2025
Time: 07:00 PM - 08:30 PM (Local Time Germany)
Speaker: Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kupke
Location: Altes Rathaus Magdeburg, Alter Markt 6
Host: State Capital Magdeburg
Contact: info@vhs.magdeburg.de
Topic: Discussion and debate formats, lectures

Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kupke / Grafik: Nils Thomas / Max-Planck-Institut

With the onset of fall, viral infections are occurring more frequently again. Dr. Sascha Kupke, team leader in the Bioprocess Engineering research group at the Max Planck Institute in Magdeburg, will talk about his research approaches to new production methods for antiviral agents on September 29, 2025, as part of the “Wissenschaft im Rathaus” (“Science in City Hall”) lecture series.

Talk given by Dr.-Ing. Sascha Kupke in the lecture series „Wissenschaft im Rathaus"

DIPs (Defective Interfering Particles) are naturally occurring, defective virus particles. DIPs lack an essential part of their viral genome, which is why they cannot replicate during infection. They are used as a broad-spectrum antiviral agent to inhibit respiratory viruses (in the lungs and throat), as this is where natural infection begins. Animal studies have been conducted with cooperation partners and have shown a strong antiviral effect. Clinical trials are to be made possible.

Sascha Kupke studied Biotechnology at the Technical University Berlin and Dongseo University Busan, South Korea (dual degree program). He graduated (Dipl.-Ing. and M.Eng.) in 2012. In the same year, he joined the Bioprocess Engineering Group at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics of Complex Technical Systems (Magdeburg) as a Ph.D. candidate, working with single-cell analyses of Influenza-A-Virus (IAV). Since 2020, he has led the Molecular Biology team of the Bioprocess Engineering group, focusing on applied research on IAV-derived defective interfering particles for antiviral treatment.

Once a month, the Old Town Hall in Magdeburg hosts an event called “Science in the Town Hall.” Magdeburg-based scientists present their current research, swapping their laboratories and lecture halls for the town hall.

The event highlights current research topics from various scientific disciplines, illustrating both the breadth and the focus of Magdeburg as a center of science.

The lecture series “Science at City Hall” is a joint project of Magdeburg's research institutions, the municipal adult education center, and the city administration.

The lectures begin at 7:00 p.m. in the exhibition/reception area. Participation in the event at the Old Town Hall is free of charge. To help us plan seating capacity, please register in advance by calling the Municipal Adult Education Center at 03 91/5 35 47 70.