Welcome to the DZIF -

the German Center for Infection Research

Research Areas

DZIF is doing research in nine areas:

Community-Acquired Infections at Mucosal Interfaces

Hepatitis

HIV

Infections of the Immunocompromised Host

Healthcare-Associated Infections

Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases

Emerging Infections

Novel Antibiotics

Tuberculosis

News

News and Press Releases:

Group photo of PanACEA, a successful European-African TB trials consortium that developed trial capacity in many African countries.
© PanACEA consortium

Safe alternatives to toxic tuberculosis drug linezolid

The logo of the DZIF Academy is shown at the top left and an icon of a certificate can be seen on the right of the image.
© hunthomas/Adobe Stock

Apply now: DZIF Prize for Translational Infection Research 2025

The German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) is again offering the DZIF Prize for Translational Infection Research. Scientists can apply to the DZIF Academy until 6 October 2025. A prize of 5,000
Single E. coli rod bacteria in an electron micrograph
© HZI/Mathias Müsken

Multiresistant intestinal bacteria: Displacement through food competition

If an intestinal inhabitant such as the bacterium Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) becomes resistant to many antibiotics, it can cause serious health problems if it enters the bloodstream. How can such
Rolf Hilgenfeld
© Universität zu Lübeck/Thomas Berg

In silent remembrance of Rolf Hilgenfeld

It is with deep sadness that we bid farewell to our long-standing and highly esteemed colleague Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Rolf Hilgenfeld, born on April 3, 1954, who passed away on June 19, 2025. Prof
Six people on the podium
© Fraunhofer ITMP / Maik Kern

Research transfer: Infection research leads to therapeutics

The coronavirus pandemic provided the decisive impetus: In 2022, a Bavarian branch of the young Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology (ITMP) was launched in rented
All news

What is the DZIF? Find out more in our

DZIF movie

More than 700 people work at the DZIF with the common goal of translating basic research into clinical practice. The well-being of the patient is our primary focus. Get more insights in our new DZIF film:

Watch the movie
A GIF animation with excerpts from the DZIF film.

Always up-to-date

Sign up for our quarterly newsletter and our press releases and stay up to date.

Select mailing lists
CAPTCHA
2 + 1 =
Solve this simple math problem and enter the result. E.g. for 1+3, enter 4.

Follow us on:

The DZIF Media Centre

The DZIF in Videos, Pictures and Print.

Find Media Content

Research in Focus

Hamburg - Lübeck - Borstel - Riems

Clinical Tuberculosis Center

The Clinical Tuberculosis Center provides the expertise and infrastructure for the optimization, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis (TB) as well as for translating research results into clinical practice. The main objectives of the Clinical Tuberculosis Center include coordinating clinical research activities involving the DZIF TB cohort. This cohort includes [...]

Read more
Hannover - Braunschweig | Heidelberg | München | Tübingen

Transplant Cohort

Medical data and biological samples obtained from transplant patients are collected and managed across Germany with the help of the DZIF Transplant Cohort. The data and samples form the basis of scientific studies which investigate the connections between numerous factors influencing an organ’s susceptibility to infection and organ function. In [...]

Read more
Hannover - Braunschweig

Preclinical development of Amidochelocardins

The challenge of antibiotic drug development today is the discovery and optimisation of novel bioactive compounds that do not show cross-resistances with clinically applied antibiotics, ideally due to a novel mode of action (MoA) which adresses unexploited microbial targets. In the case of chelocardin, this antibiotic substance was identified several [...]

Read more
Tübingen

New strategies for specific eradication of Staphylococcus aureus

In this project, the scientists develop genetically engineered phage lysins and specific bacteriocins for the elimination of hospital germs such as Staphylococcus aureus, they clarify mechanisms of potential resistance mechanisms, and they analyse whether broad-spectrum or specifically acting agents have a more effective and lasting effect on colonization by [...]

Read more

Our Partner Sites

Location

Bonn - Köln

Research areas
Contact person
Prof Achim Hörauf: Coordinator of the consortium "Neglected tropical diseases" at DZIF.

Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf

University Hospital Bonn
Deputy Partner Site Speaker Bonn-Köln
Deputy Coordinator Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases
E-Mail Send mail
Ullrich Bethe

Dr. Ullrich Bethe

University Hospital Cologne
Project Manager Clinical Trial Office (CTO)
Interim Partner Site Manager Cologne
E-Mail Send mail
More about this location
Location

Hannover - Braunschweig

Research areas
Contact person
Silke Hartmann

Dr. Silke Hartmann

Hannover Medical School
Partner Site Manager Hannover - Braunschweig
Project Manager Community-Acquired Infections at Mucosal Interfaces
E-Mail Send mail
More about this location
Location

Hamburg - Lübeck - Borstel - Riems

Research areas
Contact person
More about this location
Location

Heidelberg

Research areas
Contact person
Stephan Urban

Prof. Dr. Stephan Urban

Heidelberg University
Deputy Coordinator Hepatitis
DZIF Professor "Translational Virology"
Partner Site Speaker Heidelberg
E-Mail Send mail
More about this location
München Tübingen Heidelberg Giessen – Marburg – Langen Bonn – Köln Hannover – Braunschweig Hamburg – Lübeck Borstel – Riems
15
Databases- & Biobanks 2023