Prof. Dr. Rer. Nat. Simon Blank

Simon Blank studied biology with a focus on biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Hamburg. He obtained the degree of Dr. rer nat. in 2009 at the Department of Chemistry of the University of Hamburg where he focused on the investigation of allergic molecules and their use in diagnostics and therapy of insect venom allergy in the lab of. Prof. Dr. Reinhard Bredehorst. Afterward, Simon had the chance to work independently as a postdoc doc in the field of antibody-allergen-interactions at the Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in the context of the young researchers initiative of the University of Hamburg for the promotion of highly-qualified young scientists. In addition, during his time at the University of Hamburg, Simon was involved in university spin-offs that developed new concepts for allergen-specific immunotherapy and made novel component-resolved diagnostics for insect venom allergy available for the clinic. In 2013, he joined the Institute of Allergy Research at Helmholtz Munich, where he became the principal investigator of the Molecular & Translational Allergology group. In 2017, Simon achieved his Habilitation in Experimental Medicine at the Technical University of Munich's Faculty of Medicine, qualifying him to teach in higher education. By 2023, he had advanced to the position of Associate Professor in Experimental Medicine at the same faculty.

The Blank lab combines recombinant allergens with the analysis of immunological tolerance in humans as well as in various models of experimental allergen-specific immunotherapy. The group aims to gain new insights into the mechanisms of immunotherapy and the allergen-immune system interaction. An important topic of the group is to translate the knowledge gained into new immunomodulatory and adjuvant approaches, new biomarkers, and the further improvement of diagnostics and to bring these new concepts directly into the clinic.