Leibniz Center Infection (LCI)

The LCI alliance strengthens infectious disease research in Hamburg and Northern Germany by combining over 200 years of excellent infectious disease research and pooling regional competencies and exchanges with international as well as surrounding scientific institutions and universities.

The FZB’s research on tuberculosis and the BNI’s research on malaria complement the LIV’s research to cover the world’s most infectious diseases. The FZB investigates infections caused by bacterial pathogens of the lung with an emphasis is on tuberculosis pathogens and pneumococci that are closely related to the pulmonary aspects of LIV’s investigations into influenza viruses. Between the LIV and the BNITM there are overlaps in the area of emerging infections that are usually of viral origin and whose study often requires BSL-4 safety conditions, as offered by the BNITM.

The LCI institutes benefit from the combined expertise and proximity of their partner institutions, particularly in the implementation of new collaborations and joint doctoral theses, the continued development of the joint LCI graduate school Model systems for infectious diseases, including a joint LCI curriculum, the organization of the annual international LCI Symposium and the joint use of the LCI institutes’ unique infrastructures.