Stefan Flasche
Stefan Flasche, what aspect of your specialist field – modeling the epidemiology of infectious diseases – are you most excited about at the moment?
Over the past two or three years we have invested a lot of time developing a mathematical model for the spread and disease burden of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in Germany. In recent months, this model was used by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) when debating the benefit of monoclonal antibodies for all infants. Now that there is an official recommendation for prophylaxis against RSV in newborns (since June 27, 2024, see Epidemiological Bulletin of the Robert Koch Institute), we will use this model to inform people about the potential benefit of maternal immunization as an alternative.
What has been the happiest moment of your career so far?
Ten years ago, together with a couple of colleagues, I hypothesized that with a high vaccination rate, it would be possible to reduce the number of pneumococcal vaccine doses from the usual three doses to two and achieve a similar level of protection. About a year ago, the study that we set up eight years ago to test the hypothesis showed that it was probably correct.
What are the ideal conditions for good research?
The most important thing is a good research environment. As well as friendly, smart colleagues, this includes the entire support infrastructure: from funding providers who offer resource flexibility to institutions with evaluation criteria that look beyond impact factors and also reward collaborative, interdisciplinary, and open research.
What are the societal challenges facing global health research?
Global thinking requires long-term vision and a willingness to make local compromises in the short term. The argument put forward by global health researchers – that investing German funds in the health of other parts of the world is not only helpful generally, but will also benefit Germany itself in the medium term – is difficult to communicate.
What are you passionate about when you are not doing research?
Family, friends, swimming, and volleyball.
Does your research ever rub off on your day-to-day life?
All the time. Sometimes it’s because I push my family to take part in scientific studies when there’s an opportunity to be helpful.
Who are your scientific heroes/heroines?
I have been lucky to work with many living legends. But the real heroes and heroines are the PhD students and postdocs, who are undaunted by what are usually difficult working conditions in research, and who form the backbone of all research outcomes.
Is there anything in Berlin that you can’t find anywhere else when it comes to your research?
On the contrary: I didn’t come to Berlin because it already had an excellent research environment in my field, but in order to help build one. And also because doner kebabs taste better here than they do in England …