Working Groups

The DZIF working group "Antibacterial Vaccines and Diagnostics Development" (ACTIVATE) led by Alexander Klimka develops active and passive vaccines against bacterial pathogens and antibody-based rapid tests to detect antibiotic-resistant bacteria. In 2017, the World Health Organization (WHO) ...

Antibiotic-resistant bacterial pathogens (ARBPs) are a global problem. ARBPs are becoming increasingly prevalent and cause severe morbidity and mortality in industrial and developing countries alike. It is foreseeable that current, antibiotic-based regimes to treat bacterial infections will become ...

Mark Brönstrup’s research group aims to identify and optimise new antibacterial and antiviral agents. They therefore test collections of various compounds using newly developed assay systems and are expanding the DZIF infrastructure in collaboration with the European network EU OPENSCREEN. In ...

Fabian Grein’s research group ‘Bacterial Interference’ exploits the human gut microbiome as a source for novel decolonization agents against enteropathogenic bacteria such as vancomycin-resistant enterococci. For this purpose, the research group uses advanced cultivation techniques that allow the ...

The imaging platform in Heidelberg offers scientists the most up-to-date microscopes and imaging techniques. It enables the observation of pathogenic processes both in complex tissues and in vivo. This platform was designed to accommodate biosafety levels BSL 2 and 3, both of which are important for ...

When emerging viruses cause severe diseases, the rapid development of vaccines and antivirals against these pathogens becomes critical. Some newly emerging viruses are very dangerous and necessitate the highest of biosafety levels for research and development purposes. DZIF scientists have a ...

The know-how for microbiome analysis coalesces at the Centre for GI Microbiome Research (CEGIMIR). The gastrointestinal microbiome, i.e. all the microorganisms in the gastrointestinal tract, plays a key role in the course of infections. Changes in composition, such as those caused by environmental ...

CEGICLIN is a virtual centre for gastrointestinal clinical trials. Study nurses from this centre are available to the three DZIF Partner Sites involved in this area of research. The Centre also collaborates closely with the DZIF’s clinical trial units and regional clinical trial centres. This ...

This research group, led by Professor Marylyn Addo, initiates and coordinates translational research in the field of emerging infections with a particular focus on Ebola, MERS, Lassa and Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever. Immunology studies, vaccine development, testing of novel anti-infectives and ...

The CERMEL (Centre de Recherche Médical de Lambaréné) in Gabon is one of the leading establishments for malaria research in Africa. Clinical trials on vaccines and agents are tested according to the same approved guidelines that are used in Germany. A clinical research group was established within ...