The University Hospital

PD Dr. rer. nat. Jana Held

PD Dr. rer. nat. Jana Held

Working Group Leader

Scientific research with a focus on:
Preclinical/clinical drug development against P. falciparum malaria.
Prevalence and biology of P. malariae and P. ovale.

Malaria microscopy training

We offer Master theses in Tübingen, as well as in Gabon (with field work). PhD position available

Contact

Phone number: +49 7071 29-85569

Fax number: +49 7071 29-4684

E-mail address: jana.held@uni-tuebingen.de

Clinic / Institute / Center

  • German:
    One scientific focus is the evaluation of new drugs against Plasmodium falciparum, the pathogen that causes malaria tropica. In Tübingen, new substances are tested in vitro for their efficacy against the blood stages of this pathogen, and the most promising ones are further characterized. In addition, we are investigating the biology of the transmission stages (gametocytes) and are also trying to identify new potential drugs against these stages using in vitro screens.

    Another area of interest is the investigation of the prevalence and biology of other neglected human pathogenic plamodia species (especially P. malariae and P. ovale).
    In addition, we are investigating the origin and distribution of a potentially new Mansonella species (Mansonella sp "Deux").

    There is a close collaboration with the Center de Recherches Médicales (CERMEL) in Lambaréné, Gabon. Many projects, also on other parasitic diseases, are carried out there.

    We regularly award Bachelor's and Master's theses. If you are interested, please contact us by email. There are also often opportunities to write a Master's thesis or medical doctoral thesis in Lambaréné, Gabon.
  • English:
    One scientific focus is the evaluation of new drugs against Plasmodium falciparum, the most virulent species that is causing malaria. In Tübingen we test new compounds for their activity against P. falciparum in vitro and further characterize the most promising candidates. In addition, we investigate the biology of the transmission stages (gametocytes) and try to identify new compounds also against these stages by in vitro screens.

    Another research area is the investigation of the other human malaria species (mainly P. malariae and P. ovale), their prevalence and biology.
    In addition, we are investigating the origin and distribution of a potentially new Mansonella species (Mansonella sp "Deux").

    There is a close collaboration with the Centre de Recherches Médicales (CERMEL) in Lambaréné, Gabon, and many projects also on other parasitic diseases are conducted there.

    We regularly assign bachelor and master theses, for a master thesis this is also often possible in Gabon.
  • JAN2021 - today
    Principal Investigator of the SINDOFO project (EDCTP): Phase II multicenter clinical trial of a Ferroquine + ZY19489 short regimen for the treatment of malaria
  • 2017 - today
    Research group leader at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Tübingen
  • 2011 - 2017
    Researcher at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in Tübingen
  • 2009
    Project at the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) Lambaréné, Gabon. Testing of new substances against Plasmodium falciparum clinical isolates, teaching of Plasmodium falciparum cell culture.
  • 2005/2006
    Project at the Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné (CERMEL) Lambaréné, Gabon. Supervision and implementation of immunological assays for a malaria vaccine trial, performance of drug sensitivity assays.
  • 2002 - 2010
    Diploma in Business Administration for scientists (distance study) at the Fernuniversität Hagen, Germany.
  • 1996 - 2003
    Diploma in Biology at the University of Bochum. Thesis at university Zürich and UCD Dublin
  • 1983 - 1996
    Primary school and Gymnasium, Dortmund
  • Teaching Award 2018 Bachelor Molecular Medicine and Master Molecular Medicine (Module Parasitology)
  • PHOENIX Pharmacy Science Award 2014 (shared)
  • Quantification of Plasmodium falciparum HRP-2 as an alternative method to [3H]hypoxanthine incorporation to measure the parasite reduction ratio in vitro. de Carvalho LP, Niepoth E, Mavraj-Husejni A, Kreidenweiss A, Herrmann J, Müller R, Knaab T, Burckhardt BB, Kurz T, Held J. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2023 Sep;62(3):106894. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106894
  • Quantification of Plasmodium falciparum HRP-2 as an alternative method to [3H]hypoxanthine incorporation to measure the parasite reduction ratio in vitro. de Carvalho LP, Niepoth E, Mavraj-Husejni A, Kreidenweiss A, Herrmann J, Müller R, Knaab T, Burckhardt BB, Kurz T, Held J. Int J Antimicrob Agents. 2023 Sep;62(3):106894. doi: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2023.106894
  • Dynamics of Plasmodium species and genotype diversity in adults with asymptomatic infection in Gabon. Inoue J, Galys A, Rodi M, Ekoka Mbassi D, Mombo-Ngoma G, Adegnika AA, Ramharter M, Zoleko-Manego R, Kremsner PG, Mordmüller B, Held J. Int J Infect Dis. 2024 Jun;143:107013. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2024.107013. epub 2024 Mar 16.
  • Whole genome analysis of two sympatric human Mansonella: Mansonella perstans and Mansonella sp "DEUX". Rodi M, Gross C, Sandri TL, Berner L, Marcet-Houben M, Kocak E, Pogoda M, Casadei N, Köhler C, Kreidenweiss A, Agnandji ST, Gabaldón T, Ossowski S, Held J. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2023 Apr 14;13:1159814. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2023.1159814.
  • selected publications:
  • Molecular Epidemiology of Mansonella Species in Gabon. Sandri TL, Kreidenweiss A, Cavallo S, Weber D, Juhas S, Rodi M, Woldearegai TG, Gmeiner M, Veletzky L, Ramharter M, Tazemda-Kuitsouc GB, Matsiegui PB, Mordmüller B, Held J. J Infect Dis. 2021 Feb 3;223(2):287-296.
  • In vitro activity of eravacycline, a novel synthetic halogenated tetracycline, against the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum. Koehne E, Kreidenweiss A, Adegbite BR, Manego RZ, McCall MBB, Mombo-Ngoma G, Adegnika AA, Agnandji ST, Mordmüller B, Held J. J Glob Antimicrob Resist. 2020 Dec 7;24:93-97. doi: 10.1016/j.jgar.2020.11.024.
  • Characterization of Plasmodium infections among inhabitants of rural areas in Gabon. Woldearegai TG, Lalremruata A, Nguyen TT, Gmeiner M, Veletzky L, Tazemda-Kuitsouc GB, Matsiegui PB, Mordmüller B, Held J. Sci Rep. 2019 Jul 5;9(1):9784.
  • Ivermectin impairs the development of sexual and asexual stages of Plasmodium falciparum in vitro. Pessanha de Carvalho L, Sandri TL, José Tenório de Melo E, Fendel R, Kremsner PG, Mordmüller B, Held J. Antimicrob Agents Chemother. 2019 May 20.
  • Life-span of in vitro differentiated Plasmodium falciparum gametocytes. Gebru T, Lalremruata A, Kremsner PG, Mordmüller B, Held J. Malar J. 2017 Aug 11;16(1):330. doi: 10.1186/s12936-017-1986-6. PMID: 28800735
  • Sterile protection against human malaria by chemoattenuated PfSPZ vaccine. Mordmüller B, Surat G, Lagler H, Chakravarty S, Ishizuka AS, Lalremruata A, Gmeiner M, Campo JJ, Esen M, Ruben AJ, Held J, Calle CL, Mengue JB, Gebru T, Ibáñez J, Sulyok M, James ER, Billingsley PF, Natasha KC, Manoj A, Murshedkar T, Gunasekera A, Eappen AG, Li T, Stafford RE, Li M, Felgner PL, Seder RA, Richie TL, Sim BK, Hoffman SL, Kremsner PG. Nature. 2017 Feb 23;542(7642):445-449. doi: 10.1038/nature21060. Epub 2017 Feb 15.
  • Ferroquine and artesunate in African adults and children with Plasmodium falciparum malaria: a phase 2, multicentre, randomized, double-blind, dose-ranging, non-inferiority study. Held J, Supan C, Salazar CL, Tinto H, Bonkian LN, Nahum A, Moulero B, Sié A, Coulibaly B, Sirima SB, Siribie M, Otsyula N, Otieno L, Abdallah AM, Kimutai R, Bouyou-Akotet M, Kombila M, Koiwai K, Cantalloube C, Din-Bell C, Djeriou E, Waitumbi J, Mordmüller B, Ter-Minassian D, Lell B, Kremsner PG. Lancet Infect Dis. 2015 Sep 2. pii: S1473-3099(15)00079-1. doi: 10.1016/S1473-3099(15)00079-1.
  • Antimalarial compounds in phase II clinical development. Held J, Jeyaraj S, Kreidenweiss A. Expert Opin Investig Drugs. 2015 Mar;24(3):363-82. doi: 10.1517/13543784.2015.1000483. Epub 2015 Jan 7. PMID:25563531
  • Publications
  • Parasitology I: Introduction to parasitology
  • Parasitology II: Epidemiology, ecology and immunology of parasitoses
  • Project module Parasitology for Bachelor students
  • Project module Parasitology for Master students
  • Methods in parasitology
  • Parasitology III: Current research on parasitic tropical diseases Seminar and course
  • Parasitology IV: Laboratory course in human parasitology
  • Advanced Infection Biology (Molecular Medicine)
  • Member German Society for Tropical Medicine and Global Health (DTG) e.V.
  • Member American Society for Microbiology