Prof. Marylyn M. Addo is a German internist, clinician scientist and specialist in the field of infectious diseases and vaccine development. She undertook her medical studies in Bonn (Germany), Strasbourg (France) and Lausanne (Switzerland), obtaining her MD degree in 1996 and her PhD in 1998. 

Following the completion of a Master's degree in the "Applied Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases" and a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (DTM&H) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine in 1999, she undertook postdoctoral research in the field of HIV immunology at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) / Harvard Medical School (HMS) in Boston, USA. She subsequently assumed the role of Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. She held the position of Director of the International Program and Group Leader at the Ragon Institute of MGH, MIT and Harvard, as well as Associate Director of the International Program of the Harvard Center for AIDS Research (CFAR). 

Since 2013, she has been a Full Professor (W3) of Medicine/Infectious Diseases and Head of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). Since 2022, she has served as the Director of the Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development (IIRVD).  

The institute's scientific focus is on basic and translational research into infection and vaccines. The interdisciplinary scientific team's research encompasses novel and re-emerging viruses, including Ebola and coronaviruses such as SARS-CoV-2 and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV). But also other viruses, such as hepatitis B. The main area of research is the study of immunity to viruses and vaccines. Additionally, the Institute conducts early safety and efficacy studies of vaccines, as well as treatment and observational studies in the field of infectious diseases.