01.04.2026
Striving to Eliminate Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis
Neglected tropical diseases continue to affect millions worldwide, particularly in tropical and subtropical regions. Among the most impactful are Lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis, parasitic infections that cause severe disability, chronic illness, and social stigma. Despite decades of research and control programs, these diseases remain major global health challenges.
At IMMIP researchers are actively advancing global efforts to understand and eliminate these infections. IMMIP's scientists, Prof. Marc P. Hübner and Prof. Achim Hoerauf are performing groundbreaking work in the fight against these parasitic diseases.
Professor Dr Marc Hübner’s research focuses on the identification and preclinical testing of new therapies against parasitic helminths. His lab investigates protective immune responses against filariae, examines the impact of filarial infections on non-communicable diseases such as Type 2 Diabetes, and conducts studies with filariasis patients in collaboration with partners in Cameroon.
Professor Dr Achim Hoerauf is internationally renowned for pioneering a novel drug treatment for filariasis that targets Wolbachia, the bacterial endosymbionts essential for parasite survival. This anti-Wolbachia approach has enabled the development of macrofilaricidal therapies—drugs capable of killing adult worms—sparking global research programs funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative.
Through their combined expertise, IMMIP researchers are bridging laboratory research and clinical application, contributing to strategies that may bring these diseases under close control and alleviate the suffering of millions.
