News
IMMIP Celebrates 20 Years of Scientific Excellence in Microbiology and Tropical Medicine at UKB
On 22 February, the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology marked its 20th anniversary, celebrating 20 years of internationally recognised scientific excellence, breakthrough antibiotic research, and leadership in tackling neglected tropical diseases under the directorship of Prof. Achim Hoerauf. The institute has built an exceptional scientific track record, publishing more than 500 peer-reviewed papers, including in highly ranked medical journals such as The Lancet. Its research has helped shape global health policy, clinical strategies, and drug development priorities worldwide. Under the leadership of Prof. Achim Hoerauf, his teams in diagnostics and research have achieved the following milestones:
Development of Novel Antimicrobials
As antimicrobial resistance continues to threaten modern medicine, IMMIP continues to be involved in discovering and advancing novel antibiotic candidates, with scientists from the team being part of the DZIF Novel Antibiotics Thematic Translational Unit. Through innovative screening platforms and translational research programmes, several promising compounds, e.g., Corallopyronin A, have progressed toward preclinical and clinical development.
“DZIF has helped a lot in closing the gap in translational research. Few other funders are engaged in a long-term developmental path of a new drug, which also comprises following the rather fixed regulatory pathways that some other funders do not consider innovative and basic enough”, said Prof. Achim Hoerauf, Director of IMMIP.
The German Center for Infection Research in focus
he German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has produced and released a new film about the broad spectrum of its activities. At the DZIF, over 700 researchers in 35 member institutions at seven partner sites work together on the greatest challenges of infection research for the benefit of all people. The goal is translation—the transfer of scientific knowledge from basic research to practical application. But what exactly does that mean? What diseases are the DZIF's research projects focused on? How does this huge network work in practice? And who works with whom? "We launched our new video to answer exactly these questions—for everyone interested in the work of the Center," says Dr. Timo Jäger, Managing Director of the DZIF.
Full article on the DZIF website: https://www.dzif.de/en/exciting-insights-cutting-edge-infection-research
The University Hospital Bonn is one of the DZIF’s 35 research institutions, with researchers at the Institute of Medical Microbiology Immunology and Parasitology working on DZIF areas like Novel Antibiotics; a example being corallopyronin A and neglected tropical diseases. Prof. Achim Hoerauf, director IMMIP, is the Deputy Partner Site Speaker Bonn-Köln and Deputy Coordinator of the DZIF research area Malaria and Neglected Tropical Diseases. In the DZIF video, (min: 5.45,) Prof. Hörauf speaks on the development of new antibiotics, like corallopyronin A.
Prof. Achim Hoerauf has been elected as a member of the The Mectizan Expert Committee/Albendazole Coordination (MEC/AC)
In recognition of his long-standing scientific contributions to the fields of onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis, Professor Achim Hoerauf ( Director IMMIP and Speaker of the DNTDs) has been elected as a member of the Mectizan Expert Committee/Albendazole Coordination (MEC/AC). The MEC/AC provides independent scientific and strategic guidance to the Mectizan Donation Program (MDP), supporting evidence-based decision-making for drug donation, program implementation, and disease elimination efforts.
The Mectizan® Donation Program (MDP) is one of the most successful public–private health partnerships in global health. Launched in 1987 by Merck & Co., it provides ivermectin (Mectizan®) free of charge for as long as needed to control and eliminate onchocerciasis (river blindness) and, later, lymphatic filariasis in endemic countries. Implemented in close collaboration with the WHO, national ministries of health, NGOs, and community-based programs, MDP pioneered large-scale community-directed treatment approaches. The program has enabled the treatment of hundreds of millions of people annually across Africa, Latin America, and parts of Asia. It has played a decisive role in interrupting transmission and achieving elimination of onchocerciasis in several countries and regions. Beyond filarial diseases, ivermectin has also contributed to control efforts against scabies and other neglected tropical diseases. The MDP is widely regarded as a model for sustainable drug donation programs, demonstrating how long-term commitment, strong partnerships, and community engagement can achieve lasting public health impact.
Equitable access to innovative antibiotics—global challenges and policy options
The Parliamentary Group on Antimicrobial Resistance (PKAMR) convened on January 13, 2026, for its second working session of this legislative period in the German Bundestag. The focus was on how to ensure equitable access to antibiotics—especially new reserve antibiotics—in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). At the same time, the group discussed how new incentive models ("pull mechanisms") can strengthen the development of urgently needed antibiotics without creating false incentives for higher consumption.
The meeting was opened by chairwoman Dr. Franziska Kersten, Member of the German Bundestag. Ralf Sudbrak (DNAMR) from the Global AMR R&D Hub, representing the DNAMR, introduced the topic of pull mechanisms and highlighted the connection between research incentives and global access.
The first presentation was given by Jasmin Behrends, Policy Advisor for Global Health at Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). She made it clear that LMICs bear the greatest burden of antimicrobial resistance—while often having limited resources, weak health systems, and inadequate diagnostics. In crisis and conflict regions in particular, destroyed infrastructure, cramped living conditions, malnutrition, and poor water and hygiene conditions exacerbate the spread of resistant infections. MSF takes a broad approach to this issue, encompassing infection prevention and control, antibiotic stewardship, diagnostics, and access to established and new antibiotics. Continue reading
The German Center for Infection Research in focus
The German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has produced and released a new film about the broad spectrum of its activities. At the DZIF, over 700 researchers in 35 member institutions at seven partner sites work together on the greatest challenges of infection research for the benefit of all people. The goal is translation—the transfer of scientific knowledge from basic research to practical application. But what exactly does that mean? What diseases are the DZIF's research projects focused on?
Code for a Cure: Combating River Blindness with Data & AI
A team of experts at Capgemini, in collaboration with University Hospital Bonn and Amazon Web Services, has developed an artificial intelligence (AI) model that will accelerate the speed of clinical trials aiming to establish new treatments for River Blindness, a neglected tropical disease which affects over 20 million people globally. Currently, the specialist work of clinical trials can only be carried out manually by a handful of global experts, so the winning model could save years of work and speed up the development of new treatments.Continue reading
The Search for New Treatment for River Blindness
The World Health Organization estimates that 1.15 million people have lost their vision due to river blindness, while 220 million require preventive therapy against onchocerciasis. For over 25 years, the Institute of Medical Microbiology Immunology and Parasitology, at the University Hospital Bonn and the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, in Kumasi Ghana have been conduction clinical trials in river blindness and lymphatic filariasis... Continue reading
Bacteria, Parasites & Viruses: What they really do to us | Podcast Episode 30 [Prof. Hörauf UKB]
Episode Description
This Podcast is about bacteria, parasites, and the question of what microbiology and immunology means in our everyday lives: - from the difference between viruses and bacteria, to antibiotics and resistance, zoonoses, climate change, and preparing for future pandemics. With Prof. Achim Hoerauf, Director of the Institute of Microbiology, Immunology, and Parasitology. (Continue reading...) https://open.spotify.com/episode/2VG0maiWbefuWSIrnF5M4s
