About the HZI
History of the HZI (1965-2006)
March 2006: The capacity of the animal facility is no longer sufficient. The construction of a new building with space for more than 23,000 animals is started.
2005: The GBF purchases the building of the "Gründerzentrum". The urgently needed space for several research groups is to be created in this building in the future.
2001: The GBF restructures its scientific positioning, placing the future focus on infection research.
2000: The modern communication centre - Forum - opens to the public. Scientific conferences, congresses and workshops can now be held on the premises.
1999: Experiments on mice are indispensable for the development of vaccines and vaccination strategies. Therefore, a modern animal facility is set up in which the mice are kept.
1997: In accordance with § 13 of the German Drug Law, the GBF is granted approval for the biotechnical production of pharmaceutical active ingredients for clinical practice. The quality assurance system of Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) is considered for the plant.
1975/76: The Federal Republic of Germany takes over the Institute and the federal state of Lower Saxony joins as a shareholder. In 1976, this leads to the establishment of the Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH (GBF). In 1976, the Gesellschaft für Biotechnologische Forschung mbH (GBF) emerges from this.
1975: The bio pilot plant (Biotechnikum) commences operations for the development and research of biotechnological production procedures. The focus shifts from basic research in molecular biology to application-oriented biotechnology.
1968: Aided by the Volkswagen Foundation, the IMB is converted to the Gesellschaft für Molekularbiologische Forschung mbH (GMBF).
1965: The Institute for Molecular Biology, Biochemistry and Biophysics (IMB), the predecessor of the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, is founded in Braunschweig. This takes place on the initiative of the chemist, Prof Dr Hans Herloff Inhoffen. Inhoffen's efforts are supported by other renowned scientists, in particular Nobel Prize laureate Prof Dr Manfred Eigen.