Infectious diseases remain one of the most dynamic and pressing challenges of our time. Global mobility, climate and environmental changes, antimicrobial resistance, and emerging pathogens are reshaping human health worldwide. Addressing these interconnected threats requires new, integrated scientific approaches.
At HZI, our current research program (2021–2027) is structured around three core topics: pathogens, immune responses, and anti-infectives. This framework has enabled significant scientific advances and translational impact.
Towards “Infection Resilience”
Building on this foundation, HZI is developing its next research program “Infection Resilience” for 2028–2035. The mission of Infection Resilience is to generate data-driven, concerted, mechanistic, and ultimately translatable knowledge that strengthens individual and population-level capacities to prevent, manage, and recover from infectious diseases – affected by environmental and demographic change.
This new approach reflects important changes in science and society:
- Connecting the bigger picture: We study how infections are shaped by the interplay between humans, pathogens, and the environment.
- Earlier and better prevention: By using data science and artificial intelligence, we aim to detect risks sooner and act earlier with more precise measures.
- Working together on major challenges: Issues like antibiotic resistance, infections linked to climate change, and pandemics are too complex to tackle alone. We bring together experts from different fields to develop coordinated solutions.
Four Strategic Research Directions
To address these challenges, the future program is being developed around four complementary research directions:
- Antimicrobial resistance and novel anti-infectives
- Precision infection medicine
- Pandemic resilience
- Changing climate, environment and infections
Together, they represent an integrated and forward-looking approach, spanning discovery to early clinical application. At the same time, the program builds on HZI’s established strengths in interdisciplinary research, strong partnerships, and a clear focus on translating scientific insights into solutions for patients and society.
“Infection Resilience” marks the next step in advancing our research—broadening our perspective, strengthening integration, and positioning HZI to address the infection challenges of the coming decades.
