Three new members of the German Center for Infection Research

The German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) is growing: three new member establishments will now be supporting the DZIF in its research activities, the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut (FLI), the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM).

This development brings the number of university and non-university research establishments collaborating in joint projects, at the seven partner sites in Germany, to a total of 35. Together, they fight infectious diseases such as AIDS, hepatitis and Ebola, and try to curb antibiotic resistance. Their mutual goal is so-called translation: putting results from research into clinical practice efficiently. The DZIF is funded by the BMBF.

The FLI, Federal Research Institute for Animal Health, with headquarters on the Island of Riems, was previously an associate partner of the DZIF. It complements the DZIF with its expertise in animal health and zoonoses – infectious diseases with animal-to-human transmission and vice-versa. The FLI membership strengthens the DZIF’s “One Health Concept”: human and animal health are closely connected to the environment and require interdisciplinary research. The FLI’s unique European establishments, with biosafety levels 2 to 4 for laboratory and animal testing, make the institute an important partner for the DZIF.

The RKI, located in Berlin and Wernigerode, is a research establishment and central institution of the Federal Government in the field of surveillance and prevention of diseases. Its central focus is the prevention and control of infectious diseases, as well as analysing long-term public health trends. The RKI has an “antenna function” and acts as a central early warning system for health threats and risks. As Germany’s national public health institute, the RKI’s central focus is on the health of the population. The RKI and the DZIF have been working together as associate partners since 2012.

BfArM, a federal higher authority located in Bonn, is the largest European authority for licensing medicinal products. Consequently, the Federal Institute has major expertise in the field of clinical trial regulations. This expertise is important to the DZIF: BfArM can identify promising approaches in drug development, realistically assess their chances of success and advise on the regulatory procedures for further development.

“Incorporating these three new member establishments is a further step in getting new methods and drugs to where they are needed: the patient. We look forward to successful collaborations with the Robert Koch Institute, the Friedrich-Loeffler-Institut and the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices,” says Professor Martin Krönke, Chairman of the German Center for Infection Research.