Clinical centres
Patient recruitment takes place at the local clinical centres. Besides general practitioners, and pulmonology departments of hospitals, also HIV-clinics and HIV-focused practices are part of the CAPNETZ study network. CAPNETZ has started expanding into neighbouring countries with the aim of adding further European clinics to our network in the future.
The following list gives an overview on clinical centres which are currently involved in data collection for the CAPNETZ study.
Clinical centres

Aachen - active since December 2008
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Michael Dreher
Medical clinic e.V. – Clinik for Pulmonology and Non-Surgical Intensive Care
University Medical Centre Aachen
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Judith Smith
Study coordinators
Merite Emrulai
Gabriele Heuer
Hedwig Reichardt
Mareike Wienands

Augsburg - active since October 2022
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Gregor Paul
Dr. Mousa Ayoub
Study coordinators
Aileen Benkart
Angelika Brez
Jan Niklas Krug

Basel - active since April 2010
Study coordinators
Dr. Vivian Suarez Domenech

Berlin-Campus Benjamin-Franklin - active since January 2020
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Eva Corinna Diehl-Wiesenecker
Noa Galtung
Study coordinators
Natallia Markmann
Maryna Roskach
Julia Kruschewski
Christine Grunow

Berlin-Charité- Campus Benjamin-Franklin - aktive since January 2005
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Martin Witzenrath
Medical Clinic for Infection and Pulmonology
Charité – University Medical Centre Berlin
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Cathrin Kodde
Yasmin Stoppe
Study coordinators
Marina Wulf
Beate Balzuweit
Yvonne Ahlgrimm
Janine Krakau

Berlin-Neukölln - active since December 2009
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Sven Gläser
Clinic for internal Medicine – Pulmonology and Infection
Vivantes Clinic Neukölln
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Dorina Thiemig
Study coordinators
Ilona Metzner

Bonn - active since February 2018
Leadership
PD Dr. Christoph Boesecke
Medical Clinic and Polyclinic I – General Internal Medicine
University Medical Centre Bonn
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Gereon Rieke
Dr. Dominik Benke
Dr. Sven Breitschwerdt
Study coordinators
Angelika Saidi
Eva-Maria Schumacher
Martha Oberschelp

Medical University Lausitz – Carl Thiem (MUL-CT) Cottbus - active since March 2009
Leadership
Dipl.-Med. Sibylle Schmager
III. Medical Clinic
Medizinische Universität Lausitz – Carl Thiem (MUL-CT) Cottbus
Study coordinators
Lisa Starke
Marleen Kutzner
Nicole Weiß
Dr. Ing Madlen Löbel

Darmstadt - active since May 2024
Leadership
Dr. Achim Grünewaldt
Klinik für Pneumologie und Intensivmedizin
Alice-Hospital Darmstadt
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Julian Wheeler
Study coordinators
Stephanie Enders
Michaela Mötz

Dortmund - active since April 2020
Leadership
PD Dr. Bernhard Schaaf
Pulmonology, Infection, and Internal Intesive Care
Medical Clinic Nord Dortmund
CAPNETZ practitioners
Julius Kremling
Martin Hower
Frederik Hempel
Katharina Prebeg
Kalina Popkirova
Daniela Nickoleit-Bitzenberger
Astrid Klammer
Ansgar Riepe
Corinna Elender
Study coordinators
Beata Winterkamp
Melanie Gräske
Marleen Greese-Turki

Dresden - active since October 2013
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Martin Kolditz
Medical Clinic I / Pulmonology Department
University Medical Centre Dresden
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Bernhard Schulte-Hubbert
Julia Ronczka
Study coordinators
Tina Rink
Diana Jäkel

Frankfurt Pneumology - active since August 2017
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Gernot Rohde
Medical Clinic I – Pulmonology/Allergology
Johann Wolfgang Goethe-University Medical Centre
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Alexander Seeger
Dr. Julius Kohlhäufl
Dr. Mesel Ogbazhgi
Benno Fiedler
Study coordinators
Anna Carolina Ribeiro Lima
Jacqueline Grzysczok
Henning Pau

Freiburg - active since April 2022
Leadership
Prof. MPH Dr. Daiana Stolz
Clinic for Pulmonology
University Medical Centre Freiburg
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Sebastian Fähndrich
Study coordinators
Jaime Alvarado Castillo
Bibiane Söllner
Michael Oppenländer

Gießen - active since December 2024
Leadership
Prof. Dr. med. Susanne Herold, PhD
Medizinische Klinik V, Infektiologie und Krankenhaushygiene
Universitätsklinikum Gießen und Marburg, Standort Gießen, Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen
CAPNETZ practitioners
Prof Dr med med István Vadász (PI deputy)
Dr. med Janina Trauth
PD Dr med Ulrich Matt
Dr. med Vera Kantelhardt
Dr. med Ulla Albrecht
Dr. med Christina Malainou
Study coordinators
Magda Zanella
Elisa Schnell
Pina Willert

Hamburg - Eppendorf - active since 2017
Leadership
Dr. Olaf Degen
Outpatient Centre of the UKE GmbH
University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Anja Hüfner
Dr. Hanna Matthews
Dr. Stefan Schmiedel
Study coordinators
Jennifer Böst
Martin Heuer

Hamm - active since May 2024
Leadership
Dr. Markus Unnewehr
Klinik für Innere Medizin V: Pneumologie, Infektiologie, Schlafmedizin, Allergologie
St. Barbara-Klinik Hamm-Heessen
CAPNETZ practitioners
Riwen Lim
Study coordinators
Niklas Althoff

Hannover - active since January 2005
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Isabell Pink
Dr. Nora Drick
Study coordinators
llona Olzik
Annika Bock
Bianca Metzdorf

Hannover-Siloah - active since January 2021
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Thomas Fühner
Clinic for Pulmonology, Intensive Care, and Sleep Medicine
KRH Clinical Centre Siloah
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Tabea Steinberg
Study coordinators
Nadja Schachteli
Rabea Gatzke

Hillerød - active since January 2014
Leadership
Ph.D. Birgitte Lindegaard
Department of Lung- and Infectious Diseases
Nordsjaelland Hospital Hillerød
CAPNETZ practitioners
Andreas Vestergaard Jensen, MD
Gertrud Baunbæk Egelund MD
Study coordinators
Ann-Sofie Teller

Jena - active since November 2011
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Mathias Pletz
Institute of Infection Medicine and Clinical Hygiene
University Medical Centre Jena
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Benjamin T. Schleenvoigt
PD Dr. Christina Forstner
Dr. Anne Moeser
Juliane Ankert
Study coordinators
Stephanie Beier
Jana Schmidt
Juliane Ankert

Lübeck - Pneumology- active since September 2002
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Daniel Drömann
Medical Clinic III
Pulmonology
University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Patrick Parschke
Dr. Klaas Franzen
Study coordinators
Marsha Groth
Nicole Töteberg
Christian Holger Versloot
Peggy Mex

Lübeck - Infektion Medicine - active since January 2019
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Jan Rupp
Clinic for Infection Medicine
University Medical Centre Schleswig-Holstein
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Frederike Waldeck
Dr. Benjamin Gebel
Study coordinators
Dana Lenke
Maike Koerner

Munich - Hospital of the Technical University Munich (TUM University Hospital) - active since January 2017
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Jochen Schneider
Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine II: Infection Medicine
Hospital of the Technical University Munich (TUM University Hospital)
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Johanna Erber
Dr. Florian Voit
Study coordinators
Stefanie Gladis
Melanie Mayr

Pisa - active since July 2020
Leadership
Dr. Marco Falcone
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine
University of Pisa
CAPNETZ practitioners
MD Giusy Tiseo
Study coordinators
Alice Puccinelli
Rachele Bucchi

Rotenburg - active since September 2002
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Iris Hering
Study coordinators
Andrea Gall

St. Gallen - active since February 2017
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Werner Albrich
Klinik für Infektiologie, Infektionsprävention & Reisemedizin
HOCH Health Ostschweiz, Kantonsspital St. Gallen
CAPNETZ practitioners
Dr. Marco Seneghini
PD Dr. Frank Rassouli
Dr. Sylvette Baldesberger
Study coordinators
Cornelia Knapp

Stuttgart - active since April 2020
Leadership
Prof. Dr. Claus Neurohr
Department of Pulmonology and Respiratory Medicine
RBK Lung Centre Stuttgart
Study coordinators
Selina Briese
Nina Lutz

Vienna - active since 2019
Leadership
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Heinz Burgmann
Department for Infection and Tropical Medicine
Internal Medicine Centre
Medical University Vienna
CAPNETZ practitioners
PD Dr. Ludwig Traby, PhD
Dr. Dr. Lorenz Schubert
Dr. Rui-Yang Chen
Study coordinators
Zoltan Vass
Danijela Janicijevic
CAPNETZ STIFTUNG

CAPNETZ STIFTUNG Committee
CAPNETZ STIFTUNG
Council
Prof. Dr. Steffen Stenger
Prof. Dr. Norbert Suttorp
Prof. Dr. Thomas Illig
Management Board
Prof. Dr. Gernot Rohde
Prof. Dr. Mathias Pletz
Prof. Dr. Martin Witzenrath
Prof. Dr. Jan Rupp

CAPNETZ STIFTUNG Central Coordination and Management
Executive Management
Dipl. Chem. Grit Barten-Neiner, MBA
CAPNETZ STIFTUNG headquarters
Medical School Hannover
Finances
M.A. Fin Contr. Olga Elena Arenas Toro
Scientific Officer
PhD Gopinath Krishnamoorthy
Data Management
Dipl. Bio. Waldemar Kröner
B.A. Med. Dok. Olesya Unruh
Dipl. Volksw. Frank Eberhardt
B.A. Med. Dok. Nina Adaskina
Study Partners

The central CAPNETZ biobank
At the central biomaterial bank in Hannover CAPNETZ samples are stored in a standardised form. You can apply for access to samples for your research project. The process of sharing of biomaterials is coordinated at the CAPNETZ STIFTUNG headquarters.
Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB)
Medizinische Hochschule Hannover
Director and scientific lead
Prof. Dr. Thomas Illig
Technical lead
Dr. Norman Klopp
Associate Scientists
Dipl. Bio. Bettina Wilhelm
Dirk Drobek
Manfred Mertin

The central virological diagnostics lab Freiburg
The central virological diagnostics lab is lead by Prof Panning at the University Hospital Freiburg. Patient samples from clinical centres arrive at the virology lab where they undergo a standardized multiplex-PCR based assay to identify common viral causes of CAP.
Institute of Virology, Medical Center Faculty of Medicine
University of Freiburg
Oberarzt und Leitung
Prof. Dr. med. Marcus Panning
Associate Scientist
Dr. Sibylle Bierbaum

Pathogen validation
Not all microbes found in patient samples qualify as etiological agents for respiratory infections. Thus, the potential pathogens are validated by microbiology expert Prof Andreas Essig from the University Hospital Ulm.
Institut für Medizinische Mikrobiologie und Hygiene
Universitätsklinikum Ulm
Senior physician
Prof. Dr. med. Andreas Essig

The central bacteriological diagnostics lab Lübeck
Bacteriological diagnostics can be done locally at clinical centers using rapid assays or culture methods. In addition, patient samples are forwarded to the central bacteriology lab of Prof Jan Rupp from the University Hospital Lübeck, to ensure coherence in sample processing and pathogen identification methods.
Institut für Med. Mikrobiologie
Universitätsklinikum Schleswig-Holstein
Medical director
Prof. Dr. Jan Rupp
Associate Scientist
Dr. Nadja Käding
Dr. Sébastien Boutin

The central CAPNETZ IT
The CAPNETZ database administration and programming is done by 2MT Software GmbH according to clinical data guidelines and using the online research system WebSpirit. This internet-based platform combines a web portal for data entry, sharing information and data, and for study administrative tasks within one electronic system.
With over 14 000 data sets, the CAPNETZ study databank is the largest databank on CAP globally.
2mt Software GmbH, Ulm
Contact
Dipl. Inf. Michael Wallner

Statistics
For development of statistical analysis plans for planned studies, and for statistical analysis of internal research projects CAPNETZ STIFTUNG collaborates with freelance statistician Dr Paul Schmidt.
Contact
Dr. Paul Schmidt
Study management
Study implementation activities and data quality are surveilled by the CAPNETZ STIFTUNG headquarters. Data management is the core competence of the CAPNETZ STIFTUNG. Further competences of the headquarters are applications for research projects, and communication of research results with the medical community and the public.

Grit Barten-Neiner
Dipl.-Chem., MBA
Executive Manager
Tel.: +49 (0)511 532 4434
Mail: barten.grit@mh-hannover.de
CAPNETZ STIFTUNG
Geschäftsstelle an der Medizinischen Hochschule Hannover
Carl-Neuberg-Str.1
30625 Hannover

Waldemar Kröner
Diplom-Biologe
Study Implementation
Tel.: +49 (0)511 532 4447
Mail: kroener.waldemar@mh-hannover.de

Nina Adaskina
B.A. Med. Dok.
Head of Data management
Mail: adaskina.nina@mh-hannover.de
Tel.: +49 (0)511 532 5927

Frank Eberhardt
Diplom-Volkswirt
Data Management
Tel.: +49 (0)511 532 5927
Mail: eberhardt.frank@mh-hannover.de

Olesya Unruh
B.A. Med. Dok.
Data Management
Tel.: +49 (0)511 532 4448
Mail: unruh.olesya@mh-hannover.de