Scientists at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) investigate the mechanisms of infectious diseases and the defence against them. Subsequently, they develop the results of basic research systematically towards medical and pharmaceutical application. The scientific questions they are trying to answer include:

• - What transforms bacteria or viruses into pathogens?
• - Why are some individuals particularly sensitive while others are resistant to infections?
• - How can they interrupt infection processes?
• - How do they transfer their findings to application for human beings?  

To solve these problems, they investigate pathogens that are clinically relevant or can be used as models for the research of infections. Understanding the mechanisms of infections then contributes to the development of novel, patient-tailored solutions for diagnosis, prevention, treatment as well as surveillance and control of infectious diseases.

Goal

The HZI addresses the infectious disease challenges of the 21st century. Therefore, the centre has implemented its competitive programme “Infection Research”. The programme puts particular emphasis on the transfer of research results to application, on individualised infection medicine and the increased use of data-driven approaches for infection research, including omics-technologies and machine learning tools.