Many new diseases emerge through the mutual transmission of pathogens between humans and animals. Increasing mobility, disappearing habitats, industrial agriculture and intensive livestock farming increase the risk of rapid world-wide spread. Research into fundamental relationships and the development of interventions for sustainable health management can therefore only succeed through an integrated approach. The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) has therefore founded a new institute focussing on ‘One Health’ in Greifswald. The HIOH will work in close cooperation with the University of Greifswald, Greifswald University Hospital and the Friedrich Loeffler Institute. The founding director is Dr Fabian Leendertz, previously head of the project group Epidemiology of Highly Pathogenic Microorganisms at the Robert Koch Institute.
‘Interdisciplinary, systemic and solution-oriented research is of crucial importance to the general public, as the COVID-19 pandemic has demonstrated so terribly,’ says Prof. Dirk Heinz, Scientific Director of the HZI. ‘We are therefore delighted to be able to extend our successful cooperation with Ascenion to include the HIOH, so that the results of our research ultimately benefit society.’
Ascenion has supported the HZI in all aspects of knowledge and technology transfer since 2002, including start-up coaching and investment management. It also partners two further HZI institutes: the Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) in Saarbrücken, and the Helmholtz Institute for RNA-based Infection Research (HIRI) in Würzburg.
Further information: HZI News (only available in German)