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:

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

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
Prof. Dr. Florian Klein
© MedizinFotoKöln/Klaus Schmidt

Virologist Florian Klein appointed to the National Academy of Sciences

Prof. Florian Klein, scientist at the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and director of the Institute of Virology at University Hospital Cologne, has been accepted as a new member of the
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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.

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Research in Focus

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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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Our Partner Sites

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
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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
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Location

Hamburg - Lübeck - Borstel - Riems

Research areas
Contact person
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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
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Ullrich Bethe

Dr. Ullrich Bethe

University Hospital Cologne
Project Manager Clinical Trial Office (CTO)
Interim Partner Site Manager Cologne
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München Tübingen Heidelberg Giessen – Marburg – Langen Bonn – Köln Hannover – Braunschweig Hamburg – Lübeck Borstel – Riems
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Databases- & Biobanks 2023