Emerging Infections
DZIF is prepared for emerging infectious diseases.
Epidemics caused by new viral diseases occur unexpectedly and require rapid intervention to prevent their spread. The SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, which became a global pandemic, as well as the current Ebola epidemic in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and neighboring countries—and the epidemic in West Africa a decade ago—have made it clear how crucial it is to quickly develop diagnostics, vaccines, and antiviral drugs. The importance of international cooperation, equitable resource distribution, and resilient health systems has also become apparent.
The DZIF research area "Emerging Infectious Diseases" is well-positioned to address these challenges. For example, the DZIF supports the development of Ebola, MERS, and SARS-CoV-2 vaccine candidates. The current priority is developing strategies for preparing for future emerging infectious diseases.
Central Themes
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Identifying unknown pathogens and outbreak management
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Researchers develop methods for rapid and reliable identification of unknown pathogens.
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Vaccine development
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Developing broad spectrum antiviral drugs
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Researchers search for antiviral substances with broad spectrum activity which can be developed further for use in emergencies. A virus testing pipeline has been established which can be used to determine the most promising substances.
