In the research group of Prof. Dr. Dr. Burkhard Tümmler at the Department of Pediatric Pulmonology, Allergology, and Neonatology, Dr. Rosenboom is involved in various projects on the lung microbiome. During her dissertation, she collaborated with the Research Core Unit Genomics at MHH to develop an innovative metagenomic pipeline, which quickly became a central platform for airway microbiome research. This pipeline enables the direct analysis of bacterial, viral, and fungal communities from patient samples. By isolating and sequencing DNA, microorganisms can be precisely identified using high-performance computing technology.

A key focus of her research was on investigating the airway microbiome of preterm infants. The findings showed that medical interventions such as antibiotic administration and ventilation can negatively impact microbial composition. Even after nearly two years, these children exhibited an immature microbiome composition compared to their healthy peers.

In another project, Dr. Rosenboom analyzed the lung microbiome of patients with bronchiectasis. She was able to demonstrate that as the severity of the disease increases, harmful pathogens replace the natural bacterial communities. Notably, she also found that even a seemingly normal lung microbiome can be associated with severe disease progression. By comparing data with a large control cohort of healthy volunteers, it became evident that beneficial commensals (microorganisms) were already reduced before the colonization of pathogenic bacteria.

"The research conducted by Dr. Rosenboom provides valuable insights into the development and composition of microbial communities in the airways and highlights the important role of rare microbes in maintaining a healthy airway metagenome," said DZL-PI Prof. Dr. Anna-Maria Dittrich, in whose research group Dr. Rosenboom now works as a postdoctoral researcher.

The formal award ceremony took place during the MHH doctoral graduation event. MHH President Prof. Dr. Michael Manns and GdF Chairman Prof. Dr. Siegfried Piepenbrock presented the award to Dr. Rosenboom. The Society of Friends of MHH grants this prize twice a year to honor the best doctoral graduates of the university.

The BREATH research network warmly congratulates Dr. Ilona Rosenboom on this well-deserved award and looks forward to her future contributions to lung disease research.

Text: BREATH/AB

Foto: MHH/ Karin Kaiser