Inauguration of the Leibniz Lab "Pandemic Preparedness: One Health, One Future"
On May 28, 2024, the Leibniz Lab "Pandemic Preparedness: One Health, One Future" was inaugurated at the Kaiserin-Friedrich-Stiftung in Berlin. The new Leibniz Lab connects excellent interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary research from 41 Leibniz Institutes with the goal of consolidating research efforts to prepare for, prevent, and respond to future pandemics, and to provide policymakers with evidence-based recommendations. The kickoff event brought together actors from various fields to discuss current research findings and approaches, network, and explore future collaborations.
The event was led by Prof. Dr. Gülşah Gabriel, Head of the Department of Viral Zoonoses - One Health at the Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV) and Speaker of the Leibniz Lab. In her opening speech, she presented the concept and goals of the Leibniz Lab Pandemic Preparedness and emphasized the importance of a multidisciplinary approach. Following the opening, several distinguished guests delivered welcome addresses. Prof. Dr. Sebastian Lentz, Vice-President of the Leibniz Association, highlighted the significant role of the new lab within the Leibniz community.
Contact
Speaker of the Leibniz Lab "Pandemic Preparedness: One Health, One Future"
Phone: +49 (0)40 48051-315
Email: Please enable JavaScript to render this link!
Prof. Dr. Karl Lauterbach, Federal Minister of Health, contributed a video message underscoring the government's support for such initiatives. Andrea Spelberg from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research also expressed her enthusiasm for the lab's potential to advance health research.
Prof. Dr. Peter Openshaw from Imperial College London presented the UK's pandemic preparedness and the importance of scientific advice in policy-making. Dr. Marco Goeijenbier from Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam discussed the post-pandemic landscape of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and their impact on intensive care units in the Netherlands. Prof. Dr. Dorothy Yeboah-Manu from the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research in Accra, Ghana, shared insights on pandemic preparedness and the lessons learned in West Africa, and Prof. Dr. Gerd Antes, Founding Director of the German Cochrane Center, spoke on the importance of evidence-based scientific advice for decision-makers.
The program was complemented by a series of short presentations showcasing innovative research approaches. Topics ranged from virus detection and genomic surveillance of antimicrobial-resistant pathogens to the spread of SARS-CoV-2 beyond the respiratory tract and the role of TGF-β in severe COVID-19 cases. Other subjects included the relationship between immune age and vaccination, immunoregulatory mechanisms in chronic viral infections, and the use of ultraviolet LEDs for disinfection.
Culturally, the event featured a special performance by the Youth String Orchestra of the Musikgymnasium Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach, Berlin, under the direction of Zoya Nevgodovska. The orchestra played works by Respighi, Bacewicz, and Farkas.
Contact
Speaker of the Leibniz Lab "Pandemic Preparedness: One Health, One Future"
Phone: +49 (0)40 48051-315
Email: Please enable JavaScript to render this link!
