Program Lecture Series 2026 

REGISTRATION

(one-time registration for the entire lecture series):
https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/VcXpPWlzQzCDzsocCPuSXA

ABOUT

As part of the “BREATHE – Building REspirAtory and infecTious disease Education And HEalthcare capacity in Ukraine” programme, the lecture series aims to support medical education and continuous training for medical students, residents, and young physicians in Ukraine. The lectures will be delivered in English, and presentation slides will be translated into Ukrainian, kindly coordinated by colleagues at V.N. Karazin Kharkiv National University.

Fridays at 14:00 CE(S)T / 15:00 EE(S)T 

SPEAKERS

Claudia Beisel is a Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at Heidelberg University Hospital, Germany. She is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and holds a Diploma in Tropical Medicine from the Bernhard Nocht Institute in Hamburg. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, where she also worked as a clinical researcher in the Department of Gastroenterology, Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine. Alongside her clinical training, she conducted postdoctoral research at the Leibniz Institute of Virology in Hamburg, focusing on sex-specific di erences in
HIV-induced immune responses. Her scientific work is complemented by a strong academic background, including a doctoral thesis in clinical infectiology at the
University of Cologne on invasive mucormycosis. She has received several competitive fellowships, including support from the German Center for Infection
Research (DZIF) and international funding programs in infectious diseases. Her clinical and research interests include infectious diseases, immunology, and
tropical medicine, with a particular focus on host-pathogen interactions and immune responses. She is an active member of several professional societies,
including the German Society of Internal Medicine and the German Society for Infectious Diseases.

Thomas Theo Brehm is a board-certified Physician in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases and Intensive Care Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany, and a researcher at the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center. He also holds a Diploma in Tropical Medicine from the Bernhard Nocht Institute in Hamburg. His clinical and academic work focuses on tuberculosis and other mycobacterial diseases, with a particular interest in drug-resistant tuberculosis, treatment monitoring, and antimicrobial stewardship. He has extensive experience in both clinical care and translational research, including
prospective cohort studies and the development of biomarker-based approaches for treatment response assessment. He is actively involved in international
collaborative research networks, with a particular focus on scientific collaboration in Eastern Europe. He serves as Deputy Head of the Clinical Tuberculosis (ClinTB)
infrastructure of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF). In addition, he coordinates two hospital partnership projects funded through the German Hospital
Partnership Programme with partners in Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. These projects focus on strengthening pre- and postgraduate medical education,
implementing antimicrobial stewardship strategies, and supporting the introduction of innovative diagnostic approaches for tuberculosis, including
molecular and sequencing-based methods, with the aim of improving clinical decision-m aking and building sustainable capacity.

Dumitru Chesov is an Associate Professor in the Department of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology at the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Nicolae
Testemitanu” (USMF) in Chi inau, Republic of Moldova. In addition, he is a Postdoctoral Researcher at the Division of Clinical Infectious Diseases at the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Germany. He is a board-certified specialist and consultant in Respiratory Medicine with extensive clinical expertise and
a strong academic track record. His work focuses on pulmonary infections, particularly tuberculosis and drug-resistant tuberculosis, with a special interest in innovative diagnostic approaches and clinical management strategies. Dr. Chesov has been actively involved in international research collaborations and contributes to the advancement of evidence-based practices in respiratory and infectious diseases. His academic activities include teaching medical students and postgraduate trainees, mentoring young researchers, and participating in multicenter studies aimed at improving patient outcomes in high-burden settings.

Annette Hennigs is the Head of Infectious Diseases at the Albertinen Heart and Vascular Center, Albertinen Hospital in Hamburg, Germany. She is a board-certified physician in Internal Medicine with additional specialization in Infectious Diseases. She completed her medical training in Hamburg and previously worked at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), where she played a key role in shaping clinical infectious diseases services. Her responsibilities included leading the infectious diseases consultation service, contributing to interdisciplinary case conferences (e.g., endocarditis and complex bone and soft tissue infections), and erving as a core member of the antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) team, promoting the responsible use of antibiotics. Dr. Hennigs is actively engaged in national professional networks, including the German Society for Infectious Diseases, and is known for her contributions to medical education and knowledge dissemination, including as host of the podcast Infektiopod. In her current role, she leads infectious diseases services across the hospital, including antimicrobial stewardship programs, inpatient infectious diseases consultations, and cross-disciplinary clinical support. She is also responsible for implementing quality improvement initiatives, particularly in the early recognition and management of sepsis, aiming to enhance patient outcomes through integrated and evidence-based care.

Johannes Jochum is a Consultant in Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine is a board-certified Physician in Internal Medicine with specialization in Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany. He serves as a Senior Physician in the Department of Medicine and is a liated with the Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine. His clinical work focuses on infectious diseases, tropical medicine, and antimicrobial stewardship, with extensive experience in the management of complex infections and the rational use of anti-infective therapies. He is actively involved in inpatient and outpatient care, including the leadership of specialized clinical services within tropical medicine. Dr. Jochum is engaged in clinical research and contributes to national guidelines and scientific initiatives in infectious diseases and tropical medicine. His work includes e orts to improve antibiotic stewardship and optimize the management of infectious diseases in both hospital-based and global health settings.

Olha Konstantynovska is an Associate Professor in Infectious Diseases and Clinical Immunology at V. N. Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine, and an Honorary Senior Research Fellow at Imperial College London, United Kingdom. She holds an MD and PhD and is a specialist in tuberculosis and respiratory infections.
Her clinical and academic work focuses on tuberculosis, including drug-resistant tuberculosis, as well as pulmonology, immunology, microbiology, and molecular genetics. She has broad expertise in internal medicine and phthisiology, with a strong interest in host-pathogen interactions and translational aspects of infectious diseases. She is Chair of the Tuberculosis and Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Diseases Group (ERS Assembly 10.02) and an active member of several international professional societies, including the European Respiratory Society (ERS), the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID), the  Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), and the Tuberculosis Network European Trialsgroup (TBnet). Her work aims to advance tuberculosis research and strengthen international collaboration, particularly in Eastern Europe, bridging clinical practice and research to improve patient care and outcomes.

Christian Kraef is a clinician-scientist and infectious diseases physician at Copenhagen University Hospital – Rigshospitalet, Denmark, specialising in Infectious Diseases and Internal Medicine. He holds a medical degree and research doctorate (Dr. med.) from the University of Münster, a Master's in Epidemiology and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and the two-year ESCMID Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) certification. His research focuses on the epidemiology and outcomes of tuberculosis and HIV co-infection across European and global settings, with a particular interest in Eastern Europe. As a postdoctoral researcher, he has led and contributed to international collaborative studies on TB/HIV epidemiology and healthcare delivery, resulting in numerous peer-reviewed publications and active partnerships across Europe and beyond. Alongside his TB/HIV work, Dr. Kraef is committed to advancing antimicrobial stewardship and the management of persistent and complex bacterial infections. He is the co-founder of the Danish Society of Infectious Diseases (DSI) national AMS working group and serves as Vice Chair of DSI, where he leads strategy development and professional policy. In the hospital setting, he combines clinical practice with the implementation of cross-departmental AMS initiatives.

Ole Kirk is a Consultant in Infectious Diseases at Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark, where he divides his clinical wo rk between an infectious diseases inpatient ward and an HIV outpatient clinic. He is also Adjunct Professor of Infectious Diseases at the University of Southern Denmark. He has been engaged in HIV medicine and European collaborative research since 1997, with a particular focus on large cohort studies. He has played a central role in the management of the EuroSIDA Study and has contributed to major international collaborations including the D:A:D Study and COHERE. Since 2006, he has coordinated TB-HIV research activities
across 62 sites in Latin America, Western and Eastern Europe. Professor Kirk has authored a magnitude of scientific publications, primarily in the
fields of HIV epidemiology, antiretroviral therapy uptake and response, and treatment-related toxicity, often with a focus on regional di erences across Europe.
His research has also addressed HIV-associated opportunistic infections and, more recently, clinical challenges in people living with HIV in Eastern Europe, particularly
tuberculosis. He is Member of the Opportunistic Infections Panel of the EACS Guidelines Committee and has extensive experience in postgraduate medical education. His teaching activities include international training initiatives, WHO mentoring programmes, and long-standing educational collaborations with clinicians in Eastern Europe.

Elisabeth Krüger is an infectious diseases physician at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany. She currently works in the infectious diseases consultation service as well as in the outpatient clinic for infectious diseases, where she is involved in specialized care through the HIV clinic and the STI clinic. Her clinical work focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases in both inpatient and outpatient settings, with particular expertise in managing
complicated cases requiring interdisciplinary collaboration. She actively participates in multidisciplinary boards, including the endocarditis board and the soft tissue infection board, contributing to complex clinical decision-making. In addition to her clinical work, she has experience in microbiology, which supports her expertise in diagnostic interpretation and targeted antimicrobial therapy. Her work spans a broad spectrum of infectious diseases, including bacterial infections, HIV, and other chronic infectious conditions. 

Christoph Lange is the Medical Director of the Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center, Germany, where he also serves as the Head of the Clinical Tuberculosis (ClinTB) unit of the German Center of Infection Research (DZIF). He is Professor of Respiratory Medicine & International Health at the University of Lübeck and currently Guest Professor at the University Hamburg/University Hospitals Eppendorf in Germany, the Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Childrens´ Hospital in Houston, TX, USA and the State University for Medicine and Pharmacy in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova. He is a leading international scientist in the field of clinical tuberculosis drug
development and is pioneering the field of precision medicine in tuberculosis. His team has developed a comprehensive biomarker platform for the diagnosis of
tuberculosis and treatment monitoring. Together with his collaborators he has informed international tuberculosis prevention strategies, developed new diagnostics and has shaped the management of individuals affected by drug-resistant tuberculosis in international guidelines. Christoph Lange is serving on tuberculosis advisory committees for the World Health Organization, Médicines sans Frontièrs and national tuberculosis programs. He has been the founder of the Tuberculosis Network European Trialsgroup (TBnet) and is presently Director and Secretary General of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases.

Natalie Lorent is a pulmonologist and clinical infectiologist at the University Hospitals Leuven and KU Leuven, Belgium, where she serves as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Medicine and is a member of the Leuven One Health Institute. She is affliated with the Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery (BREATHE). Her clinical and academic work focuses on mycobacterial infections, with particular emphasis on tuberculosis (TB) and non-tuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) diseases. She has a strong interest in improving diagnostic approaches and patient care, combining clinical expertise with translational research in
respiratory infections. Dr. Lorent has extensive experience in the management of TB, including TB/HIV co-infection, particularly in low-resource settings across Africa and Asia. This international experience has shaped her work in global health and contributed to her expertise in complex and resource-adapted care strategies.
She is actively involved in international collaborations and plays a key role within the TBnet community, where she serves as Chair and represents NTMnet in the TBnet
steering committee. Her work aims to advance the understanding and management of mycobacterial diseases and to strengthen international collaboration in research and clinical care. 

Helmut Salzer is Professor of Clinical Infectious Diseases and Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at Kepler University Hospital in Linz, Austria. He is also a liated with the Johannes Kepler University Linz and the Semmelweis Institute in Vienna. He studied medicine at the Medical University of Graz, Austria, where he began his academic career in 2008 as a research physician in the clinical infectious diseases group. During this time, he completed a Master of Public Health (MPH) with international training periods in Norway, Denmark, and Germany. In 2011, he moved to the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), Germany, where he trained in internal medicine and was associated with the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine. From 2015 to 2019, he worked at the Research Center Borstel in the group of Prof. Christoph Lange, focusing on mycobacterial infections. During this time, he completed his specialist training in
internal medicine and infectious diseases and founded the international research network CPAnet. Since 2019, he has been working in Linz, where he also completed his training in pulmonology. His work focuses on infectious diseases, tropical medicine, and mycobacterial infections, combining clinical care, research, and teaching.

Jan Rupp is Professor of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at the University of Lübeck and Director of the Infectious Disease Clinic at the University Hospital
Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) in Lübeck and the Institute of Medical Microbiology at the University Hospitel Schleswig-Holstein in Kiel and Lübeck, Germany. He is a
board-certified specialist in internal medicine and infectious diseases, as well as in microbiology, virology, and infection epidemiology. His clinical and academic
work focuses on host–pathogen interactions, with particular emphasis on host–microbiome–pathogen dynamics, hypoxia-driven immunomodulation, and chlamydial infections. He combines clinical expertise with translational and experimental research to better understand infectious disease pathogenesis and to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Prof. Rupp has an extensive scientific track record, with numerous publications and longstanding experience in infectious diseases research. He is actively involved in national and international research networks, is coordinator of the DZIF(German Center for Infection Research)- Academy for the promotion of young scientists and member of the executive board of CAPNETZ. In addition to his research activities, he is engaged in clinical care, microbiological
diagnostics, and outpatient infectious diseases services. His work aims to bridge basic science and clinical practice, advancing the understanding and management
of infectious diseases and contributing to improved patient outcomes.