Dr Wilhelm Gerner

Wilhelm graduated from the University of Tübingen, Germany with a PhD (Dr. rer. nat.) in Immunology for his work on the identification of foot-and-mouth disease virus-derived T cell epitopes in swine and cattle. He spent most of his scientific career at the Institute of Immunology, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna in Austria, starting on a staff scientist position with promotions to Assistant Professor in 2015 and Associate Professor in 2020. He has been a Group Leader at The Pirbright Institute since January 2021.

Wilhelm’s previous research focused on T cells in pigs and their response to various viral and bacterial pathogens like influenza A virus, porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae and Salmonella Typhimurium. In the last three years, he did also some work on T cells in chickens and turkeys as well as porcine B cells. His most recent research activities focus on T follicular helper cells, which support B cells on their antibody-producing capacities. For his work in Pirbright he envisages to work on T cells in both pigs and cattle, in the context of foot-and-mouth disease virus but also other viruses.

Wilhelm’s research aims to elucidate the interaction of T and B cells in the context of infection and vaccination. Comparative studies in pigs and cattle will help to shed light on mechanisms that contribute either to protection and clearance of disease or pathological outcomes influenced by the host and the virus.