Einstein Professorship Awarded to Harald Prüß
Professor Harald Prüß is an internationally recognized leader in the field of autoimmune encephalopathies – disorders of the brain in which misdirected antibodies attack neurons or their surface molecules, leading to neurological and psychiatric symptoms. The Einstein Foundation Berlin is now supporting his research at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) through an Einstein Professorship for a period of two years.
Prof. Prüß © DZNE
Harald Prüß is one of Germany’s leading neuroscientists and a prominent figure in this field on the international stage. Through his pioneering work on conditions such as anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, an autoimmune inflammatory brain disease, and immune-mediated dementias, he has made fundamental contributions to understanding these disorders. His translational research bridges laboratory discoveries and clinical practice, laying the groundwork for more accurate diagnosis of these rare diseases and enabling earlier initiation of immunotherapy for patients.
As part of the Einstein Professorship, Harald Prüß, Director of the Department of Experimental Neurology and the Section for Autoimmunity and Neurodegeneration at Charité, and head of a research group at the DZNE, will continue fostering interdisciplinary collaboration among several Berlin-based research institutions. A central focus of his work will be to investigate how the immune system influences the normal aging process of the brain.
"Research into autoimmune mechanisms affecting the nervous system has increasingly shown that the normal aging process of the brain in all of us is likely influenced – positively or negatively – by our own immune system," says the neuroscientist.
Over the coming years, Professor Prüß aims to establish this emerging field of research and, ideally, identify new therapeutic approaches that will directly benefit patients.
Together with his team, he will continue investigating the complex mechanisms through which antibodies targeting the nervous system give rise to a wide spectrum of neurological and psychiatric disorders, including autoimmune dementias, encephalitis, and psychotic illnesses. Many of these conditions, now increasingly understood to have an immunological basis, were previously regarded as purely psychiatric, functional, or of unknown origin – often carrying significant stigma.
"What was once considered an 'illness of the mind' can now, in some cases, be clearly identified and treated as an autoimmune disease," explains Harald Prüß.
A similar transformation is expected in dementia research. Given the high prevalence of dementia and its anticipated rise in the coming decades, this represents an area of major societal importance.
Einstein Professorship
The Einstein Foundation Berlin supports outstanding researchers of the highest international caliber through its Einstein Professorship program. The initiative is designed to facilitate appointments at Berlin universities and strengthen Berlin’s position as a global center of scientific excellence by helping to retain leading researchers and prevent their recruitment by competing institutions. Recipients of an Einstein Professorship receive substantial support, including state-of-the-art laboratory equipment, funding for qualified research staff, and travel resources. Grants of up to €500,000 are available for a maximum funding period of two years.
More Information
Department of Experimental Neurology
Section Autoimmunity and Neurodegeneration
DZNE Autoimmune Encephalopathies
Press release Einstein Foundation