As a member of the Helmholtz Association, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, based in Braunschweig, conducts top-level research in the field of infectious diseases. Our scientists develop novel methods and strategies to fight infectious diseases faster and more effectively. Our common goal is to develop novel approaches for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Our research focuses on bacterial and viral pathogens, their interaction with the human immune system and new effective substances and vaccines.

The aim of the department ‘Chemical Biology’ is to discover and characterize novel anti-infectives through screening, mode of action studies and chemical synthesis. The department ‘RNA Biology of Bacterial Infections’ explores the RNA biology of bacterial pathogens, members of the human microbiome, as well as phages. Their main focus is now shifting to the development of programmable RNA antibiotics, also called asobiotics.

This research center is part of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers. With more than 42,000 employees and an annual budget of over € 5 billion, the Helmholtz Association is Germany's largest scientific organisation.