Erika von Mutius

Director of the Institute of Asthma and Allergy Prevention, Head of the Department “Environmental Health”

Director of the Institute of Asthma and Allergy Prevention (IAP), Head of the Department “Environmental Health” (EHC)

+49 89 3187 48604 erika.vonmutius@helmholtz-munich.de

“I am a passionate pediatrician scientist. My research focuses on the roots of asthma and allergy development with the aim of ultimately preventing these diseases in children at risk."

Visit the IAP Research Website Visit the EHC Department Website View Erika von Mutius’ CV

Erika von Mutius completed her internship and residency training in the Department of General Pediatrics, Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care at the Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital at LMU Munich. After her residency, she spent a year as a research fellow at the University of Arizona, Respiratory Science Center, with Professor Fernando Martinez, where she caught fire for science.

She added a Master of Science Degree in Epidemiology at Harvard School of Public Health to her medical training. As a senior physician and professor of pediatric allergology and pneumology, Erika von Mutius headed the Department of Asthma and Allergy at the Dr. von Hauner Children’s Hospital from 1993 until 2023. Since 2017, she has been Director of the Institute of Asthma and Allergy Prevention at Helmholtz Munich. In 2021, she was appointed Department Head of the Environmental Health Center at Helmholtz Munich.

Under Erika von Mutius leadership, numerous interdisciplinary, multicenter population-based studies have investigated the role of genetic and environmental risk and protective factors for childhood asthma and allergic diseases, both nationally and internationally. The most prominent studies are the so-called farm studies in which she and her team unravel the relevant exposures and underlying mechanisms conferring such strong protection from asthma and allergies.

Pediatrics Asthma Allergy Prevention Epidemiology

"I have seen so many children and their families carrying a heavy burden caused by asthma, atopic dermatitis or food allergies. Conversely, I have seen so many regions in the world where the environmental conditions do not allow these diseases to develop.

We have translated these findings to mouse studies and can already fully prevent allergic asthma in these animals. The vision of a world without asthma and allergies is in our hands!"

Large group of kids, friends boys and girls running in the park on sunny summer day in casual clothes

Since 2021

Since 2017

2017 - 2023

Since 2004

1993 – 2023

Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art 2023
ERC Advanced Grant 2010 and 2022
Balzan Prize awarded for “Pathophysiology of Respiration: from Basic Sciences to the Bedside” 2019
Gottfried-Wilhelm-Leibniz Prize of the German Research Foundation (DFG) 2013
Member of the Editorial Board of the New England Journal of Medicine 2006 - 2018

Bayerns Ministerpraesident Dr. Markus Soeder: Bayerischer Maximiliansorden für Wissenschaft und Kunst
aufgenommen am 26.07.2023 in Muenchen.
Foto: Joerg Koch/ Bayerische Staatskanzlei — Professor Dr. Erika von Mutius receives the Bavarian Maximilian Order for Science and Art from the Bavarian Minister-President, Dr. Markus Söder, on July 26, 2023

Dragunas G, Klotz M, Chen S, Ertüz Z, Tan X, Korkmaz ÜR, Shankhwar S, Rankl B, Dhakad D, Omony J, Mayr CH, Chen Y, Agami A, Lin CW, Müller C, Lunding L, Wegmann M, Berner J, Popovic J, Schraml BU, Adler H, Falter-Braun P, Schiller H, Watz H, Conlon TM, Jeridi A, Kapellos TS, von Mutius E, Yildirim AÖ

A beneficial environment promotes immune resilience through epigenetic regulation

Depner M, Taft DH, Kirjavainen PV, Kalanetra KM, Karvonen AM, Peschel S, Schmausser-Hechfellner E, Roduit C, Frei R, Lauener R, Divaret-Chauveau A, Dalphin J-C, Riedler J, Roponen M, Kabesch M, Renz H, Pekkanen J, Farquharson FM, Louis P, Mills D, von Mutius E, Ege MJ on behalf of the PASTURE study group.

Maturation of the gut microbiome during the first year of life contributes to the protective farm effect on childhood asthma.

Kirjavainen PV, Karvonen AM, Adams RI, Täubel M, Roponen M, Tuoresmäki P, Loss G, Jayaprakash B, Depner M, Ege MJ, Renz H, Pfefferle PI, Schaub B, Lauener R, Hyvärinen A, Knight R, Heederik DJJ, von Mutius* E, Pekkanen*; * shared last authorship

Farm-like indoor microbiota in non-farm homes protects children from asthma development.

Stein MM, Hrusch CL, Gozdz J, Igartua C, Pivniouk V, Murray SE, Ledford JG, Marques dos Santos M, Anderson RL, Metwali N, Neilson JW, Maier RM, Gilbert JA, Holbreich M, Thorne PS, Martinez FD, von Mutius* E, Vercelli* D, Ober* C, Sperling* AI; *shared last authorship

Innate Immunity and Asthma Risk in Amish and Hutterite Farm Children.

Asthma in children

The Farm Effect

Many children suffer from asthma or allergies. Early and effective prevention of these diseases is the declared goal of science. Which research strategies do scientists pursue and what part does cow barn play in this story?

Four children leaping off hay bales

From Bench to Bedside

Balzan Prize for “Pathophysiology of respiration”

In 2019, the prestigious Balzan Prize for “Pathophysiology of respiration” was awarded to Professor von Mutius and fellow researchers at the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), alongside DZL Chairman Professor Werner Seeger, Professor Klaus Rabe, and Professor Tobias Welte. With innovative research, the DZL team is developing new therapies to improve the quality of life for patients with lung diseases.

Erika von Mutius at 'Campus Talks'

Farm life: protection from allergies and asthma in children

"Children who grow up on a traditional farm are less likely to have asthma, allergies, or hay fever."

Erika von Mutius at ARD Alpha Campus Talks: “The Farm: Protection Against Allergies and Asthma in Children”

Man having asthma attack, difficulties with breathe, feeling severe pain

Listen to the podcast

Afro mother holding asthma inhaler for daughter

Watch the video

A boy in the barn feeding the cows

Watch the video