The Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology was founded in 1992. The Institute commenced its operation in a provisional laboratory facility and a small group of scientists that has greatly expanded over the years, and relocated to an especially built facility in summer 2000.
The new facility is located in the heart of Berlin on the historical Charité medical campus, where Robert Koch and Emil Behring had made their important discoveries paving the field of infection research, in close proximity to the Parliament house and the newly constructed government offices. The choice of the location was to support the goal of the Institute to research infectious diseases in close collaboration with universities and clinical units.
Infectious diseases continue to be the number one cause of death world-wide. Nearly one third of the cases of death caused by infectious diseases are attributable to "the big three", namely AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
In addition, new infectious diseases are arising and proving themselves to have major effects on society, such as Helicobacter pylori, the etiologic agent of infectious gastritis, or Chlamydia, the causative agents of various infections.
Efficacious vaccines against most infectious agents are not available up to date, at the same time, the potential of available vaccines has been exhausted. The development and widespread use of antibiotics and other medications have contributed to the rise and spread of resistant strains. Multidisciplinary research into the molecular and cellular mechanisms of infection is not only basic science, but also applied research essential for the development of novel preventative and therapeutic measures against infections, directly affecting the health and social problems of the present and future.
The Institute employs multi-disciplinary approaches to infection biology, comprising concepts and methodologies of molecular genetics, immunology, cell biology, epidemiology, clinical research and protein chemistry. The Institute promotes the applications of its research towards paving the way for the design of rational measures of control of infectious diseases.
Academic Europe, the European career network for Academics, Researchers and Scientists
