CAPNETZ network of competence, foundation, study
3 activities – one goal: no chance for CAP
The purpose of the foundation CAPNETZ STIFTUNG (CAP, community-acquired pneumonia) is to advance academic research on community-acquired pneumonia and other lower respiratory tract infections. Through the CAPNETZ databases and networks fundamental, microbiological, and clinical research are facilitated to investigate prevention, diagnostics and therapy management on CAP.
Dr. med. Eva Pappe
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Dr. med. Theo Dähne
University Medical Centre Freiburg
Dr. med. Stephanie Müller
University Hospital Dresden
NEWS
CAPNETZ Clinician Scientist Program
The CAPNETZ STIFTUNG recently established the CAPNETZ ACADEMY and launched the Clinician Scientist Programme as its first initiative. The aim is to support the next generation of dedicated physicians in their clinical and scientific development with a focus on respiratory tract infections – especially community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) – on their career path.
In August 2025, the first Clinician Scientist Programme will accept three outstanding candidates and offer them the unique opportunity to combine clinical practice and cutting-edge research in the field of CAP.
We are pleased to introduce the first three fellows:
- Dr. med. Stephanie Müller (University Hospital Dresden) and Dr med. Theo Dähne (University Medical Centre Freiburg) have jointly applied project: ‘Mycoplasma pneumoniae – Before and After COVID-19: Epidemiology, Resistance and Outcomes within the prospective multicenter CAPNETZ Cohort’.
- Dr. med. Eva Pappe (Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin) is investigating the influence of biological and social gender in CAP with the project proposal: ‘The role of sex and gender in modulating disease outcome in community-acquired pneumonia’
All fellows receive access to the extensive clinical database and biosamples from the CAPNETZ study and benefit from close support from experienced mentors and a strong CAPNETZ network.
We look forward to exciting scientific discoveries and to advancing patient-oriented cutting-edge research!
COMPETENCE NETWORK
The competence network CAPNETZ was established in 2001 by the German ministry of education and research (BMBF, Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung) and has been expanding ever since. Physicians and researchers in Germany and Europe take part in this interdisciplinary collaboration towards new knowledge and inquiries on CAP and other acute respiratory infections. Improvements in disease management and better outcomes for patients and the healthcare system are brought about by the transfer of knowledge into medical practice.
CAPNETZ STUDY
The CAPNETZ study is a prospective multi-central observational study on community-acquired pneumonia. After two decades of patient recruitments the CAPNETZ study encompasses comprehensive data and biomaterials of over 14 000 CAP patients. These data and biomaterials form the basis for downstream research questions and constitute informative value for the national S3 guideline on CAP covering epidemiology, diagnosis, therapy and management of the disease.
RESEARCH FUNDING
The CAPNETZ STIFTUNG acts as a foundation which supports clinical and fundamental research as well as applied biomedical research on community-acquired pneumonia and other infections of the lower respiratory tract. Furthermore, every form of observational as well as clinical study (prevention, vaccination, diagnostic and therapeutic studies) can be conducted using the well established study project infrastructure of the foundation.
Interested researchers can formally request access to patient data and biomaterials, or collaborate with CAPNETZ STIFTUNG in implementation and data management of novel study projects.
The CAPNETZ STIFTUNG is associated partner of the German centre for lung research (DZL). The DZL was founded in 2011 as one of six German national centres for health research which are carried by BMBF and the federal state they are located in. Within the multi-disciplinary collaborative framework of the DZL innovative therapies and solutions for lung diseases are developed by leading researchers and physicians. As part of this collaborative effort CAPNETZ STIFTUNG contributes and receives support in terms of research and study infrastructure and public funding.