A view over the shoulder of a scientist who is currently pipetting at a glove box

©Giuditta Annibaldis

Publication

Ten years after Ebola in West Africa

The Ebola epidemic of 2014–2016 in Guinea and neighbouring countries exposed significant gaps in laboratory diagnostics. Since then, Guinean and international partners have expanded capacity in Forest Guinea. Researchers from Guinea and the BNITM report in the specialist journal *npj Viruses* on what they achieved and which questions remain unanswered. Their experiences could serve as a blueprint for other affected regions in sub-Sahara Africa.

Zwei überlappende Kreise: Links mehrere ineinandergreifende Geschlechtersymbole in Pink, Blau und Gelb. Rechts bunte Mikroorganismen und ringsum bunte Immunzellen und Antikörper

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Geschlechtersensible Medizin

Infoveranstaltung am 19.11.2026

Männergrippe ist real, und Frauenbeschwerden sind selten "psychisch": Männer erkranken häufiger und schwerer an vielen Infektionen, Frauen sind häufiger von chronischen Autoimmunerkrankungen betroffen. Wie regulieren Geschlechtshormone offenbar die Immunreaktion? Wie unterscheiden sich z.B. die Immunantworten auf Darmparasiten? Wie lässt sich die Gesundheitsversorgung von Frauen in Ressourcen-limitierten Gebieten gestalten? Forschende berichten.

Infos und Anmeldung

©Dániel Cadar

Cooperation

Tracking viruses in Ecuador’s rainforest

Which viruses could be next to jump from animals to humans? Researchers at the Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) and the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Ecuador (PUCE/CISeAL) have been investigating this together for many years – in the rainforest and in the lab. Now they are bringing their expertise together in a joint virology unit in Quito.

Eine KCCR-Mitarbeiterin nimmt Blut an der Fingerkuppe eines Kleinkindes ab, um es auf Malaria zu testen.

Foto: Emmanuel Baah

Research project

Protecting children against malaria beyond hospital discharge

Children with severe malaria remain at risk after leaving hospital. A new research project in Ghana is testing whether a vaccine, given alongside preventive medicines, is safe and triggers a good immune response. KCCR and BNITM jointly lead the study.

©berufundfamilie Service GmbH

Certificate workandfamily

Child ill, nursery closed – and still doing research?

Parents' plans rarely survive the first coffee. BNITM offers flexitime instead of rigid core hours. Part-time work is possible in all departments, including leadership roles. Mobile working is available where tasks allow. Everyone benefits, not just parents. The “berufundfamilie” certificate recognises these achievements. We want work-life balance to be a matter of course.

©LCI

LCI Symposium 2027

Data Science in Infection Research

Under the theme “Data Science in Infection Research”, the two-day symposium will highlight how advances in data generation, analysis, interpretation and simulation are transforming infection research. It will take place on 28-29 January 2027 at the CSSB located on DESY-Campus in Hamburg-Bahrenfeld. Please register for the event.

Learn more