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Mourning for Rolf Hilgenfeld: pioneer of biochemistry passed away
Lübeck mourns the loss of Prof. Dr. Rolf Hilgenfeld, a pioneer of structural biology and virology, who died on June 19, 2025.
Mourning for Rolf Hilgenfeld: pioneer of biochemistry passed away
On June 19, 2025, the scientific world lost one of its outstanding minds. Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Rolf Hilgenfeld, an important German biochemist who made a significant contribution to research into coronaviruses, has died in Bad Schwartau at the age of 71.[[1]](https://www.dzif.de/de/stillem-gedenken-rolf-hilgenfeld) Hilgenfeld not only leaves a big hole in the scientific community, but also a deep sense of sympathy among family, colleagues and companions.
Rolf Hilgenfeld was born on April 3, 1954 in Göttingen and knew early on where his path would lead. He studied chemistry at the universities of Göttingen and Freiburg, where he received his diploma in 1981. His scientific career took him to the Max Planck Institute for Biophysical Chemistry and the Free University of Berlin, where he received his doctorate in 1987 with a dissertation on the structure of a plant protease. From 1995 to 2002 he was director of the Institute of Molecular Biotechnology and in 2003 he moved to the University of Lübeck, which he headed as director of the Institute of Biochemistry until his retirement in 2020.[[2]](https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Hilgenfeld)
A pioneer in virus research
Hilgenfeld was not only a passionate scientist, but also a pioneer in the field of German structural biology. His work on the structure of viruses such as SARS, MERS-CoV, Zika and SARS-CoV-2 has made him internationally known. Especially during the SARS pandemic of 2002/2003, his publication on the three-dimensional structure of the SARS virus protease caused a great stir and laid the foundation for the development of antiviral agents. He worked closely with research institutions in China and was recognized as one of the “Highly Cited Researchers 2024”.[[1]](https://www.dzif.de/de/stillem-gedenken-rolf-hilgenfeld)
Hilgenfeld's interdisciplinary approach, which combined biochemistry, virology and drug discovery, led to significant advances in drug development. An outstanding achievement was clarifying the structure of the SARS-CoV-2's main protease Mpro at the beginning of 2020, which allowed his team to develop an alpha-ketoamide inhibitor that was also effective against SARS-CoV-2. These achievements earned him the Carl Hermann Medal of the German Society for Crystallography in 2023.[[2]](https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Hilgenfeld)
A lasting legacy
Hilgenfeld's commitment to science also extended beyond research. As early as 2010, he actively campaigned for the preservation of the Medical Faculty at the University of Lübeck, which shows his deep-rooted connection to his institutional home. Until his death, he worked as a senior professor at the university's Institute for Molecular Medicine and was particularly active in the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF). His tireless work is highly valued in the professional world and beyond.[[1]](https://www.dzif.de/de/stillem-gedenken-rolf-hilgenfeld)
With Rolf Hilgenfeld, science is not just losing a scholar, but a person who built bridges between disciplines. His legacy will live on in biochemistry and virology, paving the way for future generations of researchers.[[2]](https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolf_Hilgenfeld)