Prof. Michael Nassal

Michael Nassal, PhD, is Professor emeritus for Medical Molecular Biology at the University of Freiburg, Germany, where he headed the molecular HBV research in the Department of Internal Medicine 2. He received his PhD in Chemistry in 1980 on bioactive peptides carrying novel photoactivatable amino acids which helped identifying hepatic receptors for certain toxins and bile acids. From 1983-1986 he worked at M.I.T. on chemical gene synthesis. Back in Germany he began his HBV research first with Heinz Schaller, then as group leader, focusing on the capsid and replication, combining molecular biology, biochemistry and, in collaborations, biophysics. After his habilitation in Molecular Biology / Virology in Heidelberg 1992, he was 1997 appointed as Professor in Freiburg. Until his retirement in 2020 HBV remained his central research interest, including HBV capsids as molecular display platform and HBV persistence, in particular cccDNA. Dr. Nassal has authored >130 peer-reviewed publications. He serves as reviewer for numerous scientific journals and grant agencies. He is recipient of the 2020 Distinguished Award in Hepatitis B Research.