His current scientific interest is focused on the analysis of cell-mediated immunity against intracellular bacteria, the rational design and development of a better vaccine against tuberculosis as well as of biomarkers for reliable diagnosis of TB disease.

Biomarker discovery is done in a multicentric approach with seven partner institutes in Africa with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

[15] Moreover, a clinical study assessing therapy of bladder cancer with the vaccine has revealed highly promising data (NCT 02371447).

[18] In his recent books written in German, he has answered questions on Covid-19 [19] and vaccination [20] in a detailed and comprehensible manner.

[23] From 2010 to 2013 he was member of the board of the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization (GAVI) [6] as alternate representative of scientific and technical institutes.

From 2014 to 2018 he was member of the strategic advisory committee of the European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP) [8].

[25] Kaufmann has received numerous rewards and honours for his scientific achievements in immunology of infectious diseases including: In 2007, Kaufmann was conferred the title of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Université de la Mediterranée, Aix-Marseille II, France.