07.07.2026

A scientist’s opinion: interview with Dr Marc Hübner on the importance of parasite research

“Despite their impact, research in this field still receives very little funding, leaving millions to suffer, hence the name “neglected”. It’s just unbelievable and it is not public enough. We are currently working on a basket trial in which we hope to provide proof of concept of oxfendazole as a pan-nematode drug candidate. If this works, it will be a huge advancement in the treatment of such…

23.06.2026

Summer Reception 2026 Highlights Global Responsibility for Health

This year's Summer Reception of the German Network Against Neglected Tropical Diseases focused on international partnerships, scientific collaboration, and shared global responsibility. At the heart of the evening was the discussion of how sustainable progress in the fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) can be achieved through long-term cooperation between policymakers, researchers,…

09.06.2026

Why Google plans to release millions of mosquitoes- Debug project

Google’s “Debug” initiative has applied to release tens of millions of Wolbachia-infected male mosquitoes across California, Florida, and New Jersey over the coming years, with one proposal covering up to 64 million insects. The project aims to suppress populations of specific mosquito species that transmit diseases such as West Nile virus and St. Louis encephalitis. While viral social media posts…

06.04.2026

Prof. Dr. Marc Hübner was elected first chairman of the German Society for Parasitology (DGP)

Since January 2026, Prof. Dr. Marc Hübner has been the first chairman of the German Society for Parasitology (DGP; https://dgparasitologie.de/). Alongside him, Prof. Dr. Katharina May (second chair, University of Leipzig), Prof. Dr. Klaus Brehm (first secretary and treasurer, University of Würzburg), and PD Dr. Simone Häberlein (second secretary, University of Giessen) were elected to the…

02.04.2026

Poster award for Hannah Wegner at the annual DZIF and PEG Meeting

On February 23 and 24, 2026, the joint annual conference of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) and the Paul Ehrlich Society for Infection Therapy (PEG) took place at the Maritim Hotel Bonn. In addition to numerous presentations on infectious diseases, new vaccination and treatment strategies, advances and problems in drug development and clinical trials, and emerging resistance to…

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…

31.03.2026

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")…

27.02.2026

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…

02.02.2026

Phyton Biotech Successfully Completes Corallopyronin A Technology Transfer

Phyton Biotech has successfully transferred the manufacturing process for the microbial production of Corallopyronin A (CorA). CorA is a novel anti-infective agent with the potential to address neglected tropical diseases. This achievement marks a significant step forward in the Company’s specialty GMP fermentation capabilities and supports the broader clinical development program led by the…

01.02.2026

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, supporting…

16.01.2026

Bacteria, parasites & viruses: What they really do to us | Podcast Episode 30 [Prof. Hörauf UKB]

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. Dr. Dr. Tobias Weigl talk to…

31.10.2025

New hope for treating river blindness International study tests potential breakthrough with well-known antibiotic

An international research group – including the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) – has launched a clinical study investigating a new treatment approach for river blindness (onchocerciasis), a neglected tropical disease that affects millions of people in Africa. The study focuses on a well-known drug: fusidic acid, an antibiotic that has been used to treat bacterial infections. The aim is now to test…

13.10.2025

The Future of Combatting Neglected Tropical Diseases

The financing of programs to combat Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) faces significant challenges. Recent developments in the United States, particularly the dissolution of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), have had serious consequences for NTD programs worldwide. Research into new drugs, diagnostics, and interventions has been curtailed, and clinical trials abruptly…

12.08.2025

New edition of the standard work “Tropical Medicine – Travel Medicine, Global Health” published

After three years of intensive work, the completely revised new edition of the German-language standard work Tropical Medicine – Travel Medicine, Global Health has been published. Prof. Dr. Achim Hoerauf, Director IMMIP at the UKB, is among the editors. The work offers a comprehensive overview of all relevant tropical and infectious diseases, non-infectious tropical diseases, global health,…

15.07.2025

eWHORM Partners meet in Basel, Switzerland for their second Progress Meeting

Earlier in July 2025, the eWHORM consortium met at the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute for in Switzerland for their second general assembly. More than 30 participants representing the partners from Gabon, Germany, Cameroon, Switzerland, Austria and DRC were thrilled to have the opportunity to meet and discuss the progress of the project. 2025 is namely a great milestone for eWHORM,…

03.07.2025

Summer, sun, parasites! Where pathogens lurk when traveling and at home - and how to protect yourself

Summertime is travel time - and therefore high season for parasites. Whether it's a long-distance trip, camping trip or beach vacation on the Mediterranean: anyone who spends time in nature or comes into contact with animals should be aware of the potential risk of infection. Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, Director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at the University…

19.06.2025

Vector-borne helminthiases: A road map for current and future research to support control and elimination in sub-Saharan Africa

The Lancet commission on vector helminthiases, has published an in-depth review of the state of the art of filariasis research, translational results and things to do/next steps. The commission, composed of experts from the field of onchocerciasis (river blindness), lymphatic filariasis, Loa loa and Mansonella, looked into the current advances in the control of these disases and the clinical care…

16.06.2025

Prof. Alexander Debrah receives the Prestigious EDCTP Dr. Pascoal Mocumbi Prize award 2025

TAKeOFF Coordinator Prof. Alexander Yaw Debrah, a Professor of Parasitology and Global Health at KNUST, receives the Prestigious EDCTP Dr. Pascoal Mocumbi Prize award 2025 for his contributions to global health research and capacity development in Africa. The €50,000 prize was presented on the 15th of June 2025 at the Kigali Convention Centre in Rwanda. The award recognises Prof. Debrah’s work…

30.05.2025

Call For Papers: Neglected tropical diseases

Scientific Reports Call for Papers: Neglected tropical diseases Submission deadline: 23 January 2026 Neglected tropical diseases refers to a group of diseases caused by diverse pathogens, including viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi, and toxins. Disease detection and progression is often made difficult by asymptomatic carriers and long incubation periods. Prevention and treatment strategies…

15.04.2025

‘Translator’ between science, politics and administration

One of our current projects is the research network TAKeOff. In many cases, we don't supervise individual projects, but rather collaborations and networks where various partners work together in an interdisciplinary way to create added value. The focus of TAKeOff is the treatment of filariasis, an infection caused by parasitic threadworms. This disease is prevalent in certain countries in…

15.04.2025

Eliminating worm infections as a key strategy for HIV/AIDS prevention

Between 2009 and 2015, villagers in Tanzania were treated annually with anti-helminthic drugs as part of a government program to eradicate lymphatic filariasis. Together with researchers from the UKB and the University of Bonn, the Munich and Tanzanian teams used this opportunity to conduct a follow-up study entitled RHINO (Risk of HIV Infections through Nematode Organism) to investigate the…

25.03.2025

The German Center for Infection Research in focus

What makes the German Center for Infection Research so special? More than 700 people work at the DZIF with the common goal of translating basic research into clinical practice. The well-being of the patient is our primary focus. For more insights, please watch the DZIF movie

03.03.2025

eWHORM Clinical Trial Workshop: A Successful Capacity-Building Initiative

The eWHORM project recently hosted a successful two-week workshop on clinical trial conduct, co-organized by DNDi, Swiss TPH, and BNITM. This hybrid event brought together over 30 participants from Tanzania, Gabon, Cameroon, DR-Congo, Nigeria, Switzerland and Germany including sponsors, principal investigators, and study coordinators with a range of experience in clinical trials. Moving forward,…

06.02.2025

Effective early warning system for tuberculosis infections

The German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC), one of four DAAD-funded Global Centres for Health and Pandemic Prevention, offers the Ghanaian epidemi­ologist ideal conditions for her PhD work. “I am researching a mobile interactive voice response system that is intended to support the work of voluntary health workers, especially in remote communities with patchy…

28.01.2025

Lymphatic filariasis: Simple Measures with a Big Impact

“Conducting our studies was extremely challenging. Our study teams travelled long, and sometimes dangerous, distances to visit the affected population in the often difficult-to-reach villages and communities and trained them in disease management,” says Hörauf. “This was successful: in total, we were able to include around 1,400 patients suffering from advanced lymphatic filariasis in the studies…

27.01.2025

International travel and NTDs

The world NTD day, 30th January, is an important day as it highlights diseases that are neglected, especially since those affected live in low-income countries. In marking the world NTD day, Prof. Achim Hoerauf, Director IMMIP and Speaker DNTDS, had an interview on NTDs. In his interview, he introduced NTD, their distribution as a whole and the global burden of the disease, where more than 1…

23.01.2025

The 2nd Podoconiosis Conference

The 2nd Podoconiosis Conference was a resounding success, achieving high levels of attendee satisfaction. Participants expressed positive feedback regarding the informative research and implementation sessions, noting the clear objectives, appropriate duration, and balanced content. The panel discussion, focused on advocating for WHO recognition of podoconiosis and developing community-based…

15.11.2024

World AMR Awareness Week 2024, 18-24 November

The growing burden of antibiotic-resistant infections is one of the most pressing global health threats of our time. Under the patronage of Dr. Georg Kippels MdB, Chairman of the Parliamentary Group against Antimicrobial Resistance, a panel discussion was held on the challenges posed by antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in Germany and possible solutions. Discussions included measures in the context…

06.11.2024

DNTDs in the German Parliament - Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development

The German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) was invited to speak to the Committee on Economic Cooperation and Development of the German Bundestag about strategies to combat neglected tropical diseases and their financing. Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, Director IMMIP, gave an outline of the status quo and presented recommendations for action as an expert and spokesperson for the DNTDs.…

14.10.2024

Battling Neglected Tropical Diseases in Times of Climate Change: World Health Summit 2024

This year in October, (13th -15th Oct. 2024), Stakeholders from all sectors and regions united at the World Health Summit to discuss the most pressing global health topics in over 60 sessions. Experts from the field of Neglected Tropical Diseases gathered for a session, focusing on the intersection of climate change and the growing threat of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs). This Hybrid session,…

03.10.2024

Clinical Trials to Assess Effectiveness of Treatment Guidelines for Lymphedema Induced by Lymphatic Filariasis

The LeDoxy trials have published their joint study on Lymphedema management using hygiene measures and doxycycline administration. The multi-centre, multi-country clinical trial, was conducted in 5 country, Ghana, Tanzania, Mali, Sri Lanka and India. The trials were a collaborative effort between COR-NTD (TaskForce for Global Health, Atlanta, USA) and IMMIP (Institute of Medical Microbiology,…

19.09.2024

IMMIP Scientist Dr. Klarmann-Schulz attends and presents at the Science Summit in NewYork

Dr. Ute Klarmann-Schulz, research group leader on clinical trials at the IMMIP, represented the Institute at the annual Science Summit at UN General Assembly 2024 held in New York. Dr. Klarmann-Schulz, who is also the Bonn PI of the TAKeOFF project, was a presenter at the session on “Collaborative African-German research exchange, implementation & uptake – RHISSA and other consortia updates”,…

19.09.2024

IMMIP participation at the Conference on Tropical Medicine and Global Health 2024

IMMIP participation at the Conference on Tropical Medicine and Global Health 2024 Prof. Achim Hoerauf, director IMMIP, Prof. Marc Hübner and other IMMIP Colleagues recently participated in the Conference on Tropical Medicine and Global Health 2024, held in Düsseldorf. The event, co-hosted by the German Society of Tropical Medicine (DTG) and the Swiss Society for Tropical and Travel Medicine…

09.08.2024

KNUST Ghana and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bonn Sign a New Collaborations Agreement

A new Collaborations agreement was signed between the Kwame Nkruma University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Bonn. The cooperation agreement, which was signed by Prof. Rita Dickson, the Vice Chancellor of KNUST, and the University of Bonn, Faculty of Medicine, will enable more research collaboration and a new students exchange program. It is…

09.08.2024

From Bench to Bedside Public lecture

From Bench to Bedside Public lecture Prof. Achim Hörauf, Director IMMIP and the Speaker of the DNTDs, gave a public lecture in Ghana on research translation "From Bench to Bedside,- what it takes to bring laboratory discovery into clinical practice". The public lecture was organised by GWAC, (German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention). The lecture showed how…

08.08.2024

Prof. Alexander Yaw Debrah Gives his Professorial Inaugural Lecture

Prof. Dr. Alexander Yaw Debrah, an alumni of IMMIP and cooperation partner for more than 20 years, gave his inaugural lecture on the occasion of being awarding full professorship. Prof. Achim Hoerauf, Director of IMMIP , who has been Prof. Debrah's mentor and collaborator for more than 20 years, attended the ceremony which took place at the KNUST in Kumasi, Ghana. His lecture titled "Eliminating…

13.06.2024

Award for drug research into river blindness and elephantiasis

A∙WOL team involving the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology receives Royal Society of Chemistry award.

The A∙WOL team has been awarded the 2024 Horizon Prize by the Royal Society of Chemistry for the discovery of potential fast-acting, highly specific anti-Wolbachia candidates for the oral treatment of human filariasis. The team is a collaboration between the…

09.06.2024

The second meeting of the eWHORM consortium took place in Vienna at the beginning of June this year.

Vienna, June 05, 2024

Participants from Germany, Gabon, Cameroon, Austria, the Netherlands and Switzerland were represented in person.

Just over a year into the project, the first significant successes have been achieved. A master protocol for the planned clinical trial was submitted to the European Medicines Agency (EMA). This harmonized protocol makes it possible to conduct a multi-center…

31.05.2024

5.6 million Euros in funding for the development of the antibiotic corallopyronin A from the Japanese Global Health Innovative Technology (GHIT) Fund.

The Corallopyronin A team, led by Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, has succeeded in acquiring funding for the further preclinical development of the antibiotic corallopyronin A. In partnership with the Japanese pharmaceutical company Eisai, the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research Braunschweig/Saarbrücken and the University of Bonn, the team has put together a research program to successfully take…

27.05.2024

International World Day of Immunology

What are parasites? How do we react to them and what do they do in our bodies? Are they really our enemies? What can we learn from them? On April 27, it was once again time for the annual Immunology Day celebrations, organized by the Excellence Cluster Immunosensation2, and held at the Münsterplatz in Bonn. IMMIP doctoral students were present to inspire young and old with exciting insights into…

03.05.2024

On the last week of April 2024, Cameroon took center stage for eWHORM as the project partner University of Buea hosted the first LAMP Assay Workshop.

Manjo, April 29th, 2024

Participants from the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Gabon, Germany and Switzerland joined Prof. Wanji’s team at Manjo Medical Research Centre to initiate the training of the field-applicable LAMP assays for the diagnosis of onchocerciasis, loiasis and mansonellosis.

Through this practical training course, Prof. Wanji’s team enhanced the collaboration with all…

28.03.2024

Prof. Hörauf was a guest panelist at the "Europe 2024" conference in Berlin

The "Europe 2024" event - organized by Die Zeit, Handelsblatt, Tagesspiegel and WirtschaftsWoche - took place in Berlin from 19.04.-20.04.2024. Prominent guests such as Chancellor Scholz and Economics Minister Habeck took part in the discussions on European policy in the face of the Ukraine invasion and the second main topic "Health - how can the EU position itself better for the future"

Prof.…

13.02.2024

Neglected tropical diseases : Pathogens know no borders - Podcast on Spotify

In conversation with Dr. Dr. Carsten Köhler, Director of the Competence Center for Tropical Medicine at the University of Tübingen, and Prof. Achim Hörauf, University of Bonn and spokesperson for the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases*
1.7 billion people worldwide are at risk from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). And although one would expect NTDs to be found in faraway…

09.02.2024

The 13th new edition of the “Infection Therapy” reference book.

It is important to have a good reference work at hand that covers both the antibiotic agents and the therapies. Prof. Achim Hörauf, Director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at the UKB, carried out the preparatory work for the contract with Thieme Verlag in 2016 as the then President of the Paul Ehrlich Society, then redefined the overall concept together with…

31.01.2024

NTDs are always the first to be neglected!

How relevant is the neglect that gives the day its name today? Achim Hörauf: In my view, this has become more topical again. NTDs have been and are being neglected again, especially due to the coronavirus pandemic. One example: due to the lockdown, local control in the communities, such as the distribution of medication, had been suspended. This then set us back two to four years, if a year had…

13.09.2023

Prof. Achim Hoerauf was part of the expert pannel at the Science Summit at the UN General Assembly in New York

Prof. Dr. med. Achim Hoerauf, Director IMMIP, was selected to speak at the 9th Science Summit, on the occasion of the 78th UN General Assembly in New York City. The goal of the summit was to discuss the current critical scientific challenges affecting our planet. The central theme chosen for this year's summit was "The Role of Science in Achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development…

24.07.2023

eWHORM kicked officially off their activities!

During July 12th and 13th the eWHORM consortium, coordinated by the University Hospital Bonn and Prof. Marc Hübner gathered at the University Hospital Bonn to launch their activities. Partners from 10 different institutions engaged into workshops aiming at establishing the project’s initial tasks, with the overall objective of improving clinical research infrastructure of the african partners and…

18.07.2023

Clinical development of two antimicrobial agents funded by Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation

"For a project as large as the development of an antibiotic, there has to be collaboration between different funding agencies, as the financial volumes required are usually beyond the capacity of individual funders. We are very pleased that ForTra gGmbH, with its programmatic orientation, is filling a gap in this funding call and enabling us to proceed with the project," emphasises Prof. Hörauf.

11.07.2023

Africa Needs to Produce its own Antivenom

The need for production of antivenom, especially in the countries where snake bites occur is important. This documentary and interview highlights the challenges faced by those living in endemic areas, using Baringo district in Kenya as an example. Prof. Achim Hoerauf, in his new role as the re-elected speaker of the German network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) was interviewed. Prof.…

20.06.2023

Production of Cor-A clinical trial samples.

Corallopyronin A (CorA) is an antibiotic derived from soil bacteria by biotechnological means. Its spectrum of activity includes tropical diseases and multi-resistant bacteria. For CorA to be effective as a capsule, it requires embedding in polymers that improve bioavailability. For clinical trials, certified GMP manufacturing is needed, which is made possible by ForTra

06.06.2023

Prof. Achim Hoerauf Re-elected as Speaker of the DNTDs

During the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases meeting held on the 6th of June 2023 in Berlin, Prof. Achim Hoerauf was re-elected as the speaker of the network. Prof. Achim Hoerauf is the Director of the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at Bonn University Hospital.

19.05.2023

Emodepside for Trichuris trichiura and Hookworm Infection

Previous therapies against the human whipworm Trichuris trichiura and hookworms show poor and suboptimal efficacy, respectively, after a single dose. In the recent publication in the New England Journal of Medicine by Prof. Jenny Keiser, a phase 2 clinical study in Tanzania showed that a single dose of emodepside has excellent efficacy against whipworm even at low doses and also against hookworms…

07.04.2023

eWHORM Project Launched to Eliminate Worm Infections in Sub-Saharan Africa

African and European partners join forces to enable the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) “Road Map for Neglected Tropical Diseases” (NTDs) and reduce the burden of disease associated with worm infections. Worm infections (helminthiases) affect around 1.5 billion people worldwide, making them one of the most prevalent infections in humans. Parasitic worms (helminths) are often transmitted…

18.03.2023

Pre-clinical development of Corallopyronin A – a natural product active against helminths, STIs and Staphylococci

IMMIP scientists working on drug development presented the latest results on the pre-clinical development of corallopyronin A at the AMR Conference 2023 in Basel, Switzerland (https://amr-conference.com/programme-2023/), hosted by the BEAM Alliance. There they met with representatives from iiCON, Infex Therapeutics and INCATE to discuss strategies to bring corallopyronin A to registration.

08.03.2023

G-WAC: One Health Basics Course

The course introduced participants to the One Health concept as an approach being used to address the existential threat of global pandemics to the health and welfare of people. The course covered trans- and inter- disciplinary fields of both the main drivers of pandemic and the key pillars of resilient health systems in the WHO framework.

07.03.2023

GLOHRA Academy Series with Prof. Achim Hörauf

Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf was the guest speaker during the GLOHRA Academy Series on Tuesday, 7 March 2023. Early career researchers as well as the wider GLOHRA community joined to listen to the talk. The Series directs special attention towards the added value of interdisciplinary and international cooperation in global health research. Achim Hörauf presented his research on filarial infections and…

06.03.2023

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…

02.03.2023

The pipeline for drugs for control and elimination of neglected tropical diseases

A joint publication by University of Bonn scientists and partners from the MiniMox consortium (https://www.minimox.eu/; funded by EDCTP) offers an overview of drugs for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in the development pipeline; focusing on those drugs nearing the process of regulatory registration. In addition to information on the drugs, this paper also provides information on regulatory…

30.01.2023

World Neglected Tropical Diseases Day

More than one billion people worldwide are at risk of illness, disfigurement, disability, and even death from neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Especially in the poorest regions of the world where access to clean water, sanitary facilities and health care is restricted for many people, viruses, bacteria, parasites, fungi or even poisonous snakes have an easy game. The consequences are serious…

30.01.2023

World NTD Day, Partners message

Since 2021, the 30th of January has been recognized as the World NTD Day. The day is aimed at creating better awareness on NTDs and the burden it creates in the population. Since 2021, world leaders, politicians, scientists and the NTD community as a whole, send messages to mark and create awareness. Prof. Achim Hoerauf, joined other NTD partners this year, as the Speaker of the German Network…

26.01.2023

DNTDs calls for action plan to tackle neglected tropical diseases

"To effectively tackle neglected tropical diseases, we need safer, simpler and more effective treatments that are affordable and available to people. We call on the German government to provide more support for efforts to develop and disseminate diagnoses, treatments and vaccinations to combat neglected tropical diseases and to elaborate and implement the commitments made (e.g. on the occasion of…

01.12.2022

KCCR Celebrates 25 years of Successful Research

A delegation from Bonn, led by Prof. Achim Hoerauf, joined IMMIP’s long standing collaboration research partner institute, the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine, to celebrate its 25 years Anniversary. The Delegation from the University Hospital Bonn and the University of Bonn was made up of Prof. Marc Hübner, Dr. Kenneth Pfarr and Julia Meyer from IMMIP and Christine…

18.11.2022

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…

18.11.2022

18. to 24. November: World Antimicrobial Awareness Week

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of the greatest global threat to mankind, the G7 Forum of leading economic nations speak of a creeping pandemic. The German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) is rising to the challenge: DZIF researchers are developing new antimicrobial agents and therapies, monitoring the spread of resistance, designing infection control measures and networking globally…

10.11.2022

Meeting of the EU consortium HELP - Helminth Elimination Platform

at the DNDi in Geneva on November 8th and 9th, 2022. The progress of the project, which is now in its third year, was discussed with the partners from Swiss TPH (Basel, Switzerland), DNDi (Geneva, Switzerland) , Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle (Paris, France), Ifakara Health Institute (Bagamoyo, Tanzania), University of Buea (Buea, Cameroon), University Hospital Bonn and Elanco (Leverkusen,…

04.11.2022

World Health Summit 2022

The World Health Summit (https://www.worldhealthsummit.org/) is one of the world’s leading strategic forums for global health. It is held every October, and it brings together international experts from academia, politics, the private sector, and civil society to Berlin. During the three-day summit, stakeholders and decision-makers from 100 countries and every field in healthcare work together…

24.10.2022

Applying a Translational Lens to Global Health

Dr. Daniel Kuehlwein (Capgemini), Dr. Ute Klarmann-Schulz and Prof. Achim Hoerauf presented the progress attained on the project titled "Automation of histological analysis of Onchocerciasis nodules with artificial intelligence (AI)" during the annual Grand Challenges meeting held in Brussels.

12.10.2022

Once the worm has gotten in

Considering that the 68 million people who suffer from lymphatic filariasis, manifested by lymphedema, elephantiasis and/or hydrocele, and the 21 million who suffer from river blindness live almost exclusively in the most remote areas of Africa and Southeast Asia. Which are regions where the pharmaceutical industry cannot make high profits. Therefore, it is not surprising that in the last 30…

29.09.2022

Antibiotic Resistance - No More Time to Waste

Interview of the Month with Prof. Achim Hoerauf Berlin (pag) - The issue of increasing antimicrobial resistance can no longer be put on the back seat. The clock is ticking, says Prof. Achim Hörauf of the University of Bonn. In "Interview of the Month," Prof. Hoerauf calls for sensible financial framework conditions in the EU for research into new antibiotics, otherwise they will be caught off…

15.09.2022

First National Conference on Podoconiosis in Cameroon

Despite its significant public health burden, morbidity and stigmatization, podoconiosis remains a disease with no specific global health program, as a result the disease is only visible in the shadow of programs of lymphatic filariasis or skin NTDs. The first national conference was therefore organized to highlight the results of earlier works carried out this far and also set the stage for an…

08.08.2022

Development of the antibiotic Corallopyronin A against filariasis

More than 72 million people in the tropics are infected with the nematodes Onchocerca volvulus, Wuchereria bancrofti and Brugia malayi. Infections with these worms can lead to severe dermatitis and blindness or elephantiasis - a disease in which the legs in particular become extremely enlarged. In dogs, a similar parasite can cause life-threatening canine heartworm disease. With the natural…

20.05.2022

Successful Students and Staff Exchange Between KNUST, Kumasi, Ghana and IMMIP- Bonn

Through the ERASMUS plus mobility exchange between University of Bonn and KNUST, IMMIP hosted visiting lecturers from Kumasi. Prof. Alexander Debrah and Dr. Linda Batsa Debah have collaborated with prof. Achim Hoerauf, and IMMIP researchers, Dr. Ute Klarmann Schulz, Dr. Kenneth Pfarr, Dr. Manuel Ritter, Dr. Tomabu Adjobimey and Marc Hübner. During the visit prof. Alexander Debrah and Dr. Batsa…

30.01.2022

#WorldNTDDAY, Shine the Light on Neglected Diseases

On the 30. January, people around the world set out to create awareness for neglected tropical diseases, as they marked the World NTD Day, #WorldNTDDay, #BeatNTDs. In Germany, more than 100+ people joined in making a commitment to the 100% committed campaign. A photo collage shows 100+ of these committed supporters from civil society, research, the private sector and politics, including the…

29.01.2022

Virtual Fireside Talk

Parliamentary State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) Niels Annen and Dr. Jakob Simmank, Head of the Health Department of ZEIT online, had a virtual fireside talk to discuss global health and future strategies of the BMZ. Prof Achim Hoerauf, Director IMMIP and Speaker DNTDs welcomed the guests to the virtual meeting.

28.01.2022

Prof. Marc Hübner was appointed to the expert group of the Rili-BÄK

Prof. Hübner has been appointed to the expert group D3 "Detection and characterization of infectious agents" according to the Guideline of the German Medical Association for Quality Assurance of Laboratory Medical Examinations "Richtlinie der Bundesärztekammer zur Qualitätssicherung laboratoriumsmedizinischer Untersuchungen (Rili-BÄK)" for the period 2022-2026.

28.01.2022

Neglected Tropical Diseases - the poor are the most affected

"Nearly 900 million people live in lymphatic filariasis endemic areas, with about 40 million of them having chronic disease manifestations. In those with lymphedema, the legs and arms can swell to an extent that they can hardly walk," says Marc Hübner from the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at the University of Bonn.

26.11.2021

German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC) officially launched

German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC) officially launched The newly established German-West African Centre for Global Health and Pandemic Prevention (G-WAC) was officially launched on the 26th Nov 2021 at the KNUST in Kumasi, Ghana. The pandemic centre aims to address the existential threat of global pandemics to the health and welfare of people through…

26.10.2021

World Health Summit 2021

The World Health Summit was founded in 2009 on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of Berlin’s Charité Hospital and is traditionally held under the patronage of the German Chancellor, the President of the Republic of France, the President of the European Commission, and the Director-General of the World Health Organization.

18.10.2021

Achim Hoerauf Recognized as an Expert in Onchocerciasis

Onchocerciasis, or river blindness, is the world's second leading infectious disease cause of blindness. In marking the World Sight Day on the 14th of October 2021, Prof. Achim Hoeraf, Director IMMIP was named among the leading experts on Onchocerciasis. He is the leading expert in Germany.

05.10.2021

TAKeOFF Consortium Annual Meeting 2021

The Annual TAKeOFF meeting 2021 was this year held online. The meeting was initially intended to be held in Tanzania, however, due some minor travel restrictions, the meeting was held this year again online. Online meetings present with the opportunity for more participants to attend who would otherwise have not attended. This year the meeting had 45 attendees. Representatives from DLR and the GIZ…

01.10.2021

Kick-Off Meeting "AI Oncho" Project: Artificial Intelligence (AI) against Onchocerciasis.

The participants of the "AI Oncho" project discussed the results from the previous funding period and the further course of the project during a virtual kick-off meeting. In addition to the "founding members" of the project (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (University Hospital Bonn; headed by Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf and Dr. Ute Klarmann-Schulz); Capgemini (headed by…

31.08.2021

Symposium on Interdisciplinary Research in Mathematics and Life Sciences

IMMIP Scientists Dr. Janina Kuehlwein and PhD student Barbara Grützmacher presented their interdisciplinary projects during the Symposium on Interdisciplinary Research in Mathematics and Life Sciences. Dr. Kuehlwein’s topic was titled “Challenges in the development of an artificial intelligence (AI) for histological analysis in clinical trials”. This AI project is funded by the Bill and…

26.08.2021

Research Alliance Proposes Strategies for Developing Antibiotics

New antibiotics are needed to head off a health crisis due to antimicrobial resistance. However, investment in research into new antibiotics is much lower than what is need. The International Research Alliance for Antibiotic Discovery & Development (IRAAD) has published a white paper on strategies to strengthen antimicrobial research. The publication, including research on the natural produce…

22.07.2021

IMMIP receives $1.48 million grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation for the development of new technology to better combat river blindness

IMMIP, together with the international IT consultancy Capgemini and the Drugs for Neglected Diseases Initiative (DNDi) in Geneva, researchers are developing technology to better combat river blindness. Artificial intelligence will be used to machine-read sections of worm nodules in tissue, enabling drug testing to be standardized and significantly accelerated. The Institute of Medical…

12.07.2021

Risks and Side Effects of Irrigation with Wastewater

Water scarcity, the increasing food requirements of a growing world population and urbanization are leading to the use of wastewater for irrigation in agriculture in numerous regions of the world. This conserves resources, but also entails risks: Through wastewater, antibiotics, disinfectants and many other substances, together with antibiotic-resistant bacteria, end up in the fields, in the soil…

09.07.2021

IMMIP Receives USAID Grant for Development of New Diagnostics to Eliminate Neglected Tropical Diseases

Currently, national onchocerciasis programs are struggling with a lack of high-quality diagnostics that perform well in low prevalence settings. Nucleic-acid based diagnostic tests are particularly well suited for use in low prevalence settings because they tend to offer very high sensitivity and specificity. Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) methods generally produce highly reliable results,…

01.06.2021

World Day for Neglected Tropical Diseases

The fight against neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) is not out of the focus of international health policy, even at this time on the ongoing pandemic. To draw more attention to NTDs, the virtual 74th World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva designated January 30 as World NTD Day… The German Network Against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) welcomes the WHA's decision. "The fact that the WHA has…

04.05.2021

50 Days to Kigali. From the Frontline to R&D: The joint Fight against NTDs and Malaria

In the run-up to the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs and on the occasion of World Malaria Day, Friends of the Global Fund Europe together with the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases organised a joint discussion event.

29.04.2021

Kigali Summit 2021 - A Milestone in the Fight Against Neglected Tropical Diseases

At a joint event organised by the Rwanda Department of the Rhineland-Palatinate State Government and the DNTDs on the occasion of the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs in June 2021, NTDs were the focus of discussions. Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf, speaker of the DNTDs, Director of the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology at the University Hospital Bonn (IMMIP) explained…

16.04.2021

DAAD Funds Eight New Global Centers for Climate and Health

Global challenges can only be mastered through cooperation. This belief is the basis of the DAAD’s programme to promote the establishment of eight Global Centres dedicated to climate & the environment, as well as health & pandemic prevention, using funding from the Federal Foreign Office. One of the four funded Global Health and Pandemic Preparedness Centers is the German-West African Centre for…

16.04.2021

Worm Infestation in Intestine has a Remote Effect on Viral Defenses

Infection with parasitic intestinal worms (helminths) can apparently cause sexually transmitted viral in-fections to be much more severe elsewhere in the body. This is shown by a study led by the Universities of Cape Town and Bonn. According to the study, helminth-infected mice developed significantly more severe symptoms after infection with a genital herpes viruses (Herpes Simplex Virus). The…

24.03.2021

Rethinking the Global Health Architecture: NTDs and Malaria can be Tackled Together

Malaria and neglected tropical diseases can be tackled together, the participants of the webinar “Integrated and cross-sectoral interventions: Example Neglected Tropical Diseases and Malaria” which took place within the Actionweek of the Global Health Hub Germany. International experts had met in the run-up to the Kigali Summit on Malaria and NTDs, scheduled for June, to find out how both diseases…

18.03.2021

29th Annual Meeting of the German Society for Parasitology

Due to the Corona pandemic, the annual meeting of the German Society of Parasitology was held online. This enabled the participation of 415 participants from 34 countries, with >140 oral and >120 poster presentations.

11.02.2021

A fascination for Roundworms

Worms and other parasites cause numerous and widespread tropical diseases which are largely overlooked. At the DZIF, research teams are focused on fighting these diseases. Since August 2020, parasitologist Professor Marc Hübner has been developing this research further as a DZIF Professor for Translational Microbiology at the Bonn-Cologne partner site.

07.02.2021

World NTD Day #EndTheNeglect #BeatNTDs

On the 30th of January the world came together to celebrate the World NTDs Day. This was the 2nd time the day was celebrated since its launch in Jan 30 2020. To raise NTD awareness around the world, 57 monuments around the world were lit up orange and purple, as part of "Light Up the World" campaign for NTDs. The monuments included, among others, the Giza pyramids in Egypt, Christ the Redeemer in…

07.02.2021

World NTD Day - 5 Questions for the Expert

The National Research Platform for Zoonoses took the opportunity of the World NTD day to inteview to Prof. Achim Hoerauf on NTDs. Prof. Achim Hoerauf is the Speaker of the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDS) and Director of IMMIP, he has been conducting research on neglected tropical diseases for years, especially on filariasis (diseases caused by parasitic filarial…

01.02.2021

Neglected Tropical Diseaseses - The Poor are Always Affected

"nearly 900 million people live in lymphatic filariasis risk areas. With about 40 million of them already suffering from extreme lymphatic swelling. The legs and arms can swell to the extent that the people are almost unable to walk," says Marc Hübner

28.01.2021

WHO Launches the 2021-2030 Road Map for Neglected Tropical Diseases

On the 28th of January 2021, the World Health Organization launched the new 2021-2030 road map for neglected tropical diseases. The road map sets out global targets for 2030 and milestones to prevent, control, eliminate and eradicate neglected diseases. Prof. Achim Hoerauf, Director IMMIP and Speaker DNTDs sent a congratulatory video message to the WHO on the launch of the Roadmap, expressing the…

26.01.2021

Neglected Tropical Diseases and their Importance In Europe - Chagas Disease is a Tropical Disease that Receives Litttle Attention

To kick off the Action Week Against NTDs, the German Network against Neglected Tropical Diseases (DNTDs) under the patronage of Dr. Georg Kippels MdB, organized and hosted a Webtalk on Chagas disease.

18.01.2021

A Trap for Nematodes

Filariae, slender but sometimes up to 70 centimeters long nematodes, can set up residence in their host quite tenaciously and cause serious infectious diseases in the tropics. The tiny larvae of the worms are usually transmitted from person to person by mosquitoes, which pick up the larvae from the blood or subcutaneous tissue when they bite and deposit them in the vessels or tissues of their next…

10.01.2021

How Helminths Influence Concomitant Infections and Diseases as well as Vaccination Efficacy

This Special Issue aims to address open questions how helminths influence concomitant infections and diseases as well as vaccination efficacy, which is an important issue to meet the challenges of the "sustainable developmental goals (SGD)" put forward by the United Nations, in particular, Goal 3 "Good Health and Well-Being". Manuscript topics may include basic research questions using preclinical…

08.12.2020

The First Official Delegation Sent to Africa by the University of Bonn: Ghana

The University of Bonn maintains an above average number of agreements with univer-sities and research institutions in Ghana. One of these long-term agreements celebrated its 20th jubilee in 2019. Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf from the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immu-nology and Parasitology (IMMIP) has worked with the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) for…

03.11.2020

Dr. Alexandra Ehrens Awarded the Paul Ehrlich Society for Chemotherapy Doctoral Prize

For her outstanding doctoral work, Dr. Alexandra Ehrens was awarded the Paul Ehrlich Society for Chemotherapy doctoral prize, the PEG-Pro­mo­ti­ons­preis. The dissertation titled "Microfilariae trigger eosinophil extracellular DNA traps in a Dectin-1-dependent manner" addresses two important issues in the fight against worm infections, first the role of the immune system and secondly…

29.09.2020

Do Worm Infections Protect Against Severe Form of COVID-19?

Although the new coronavirus is also spreading rapidly in sub-Saharan Africa, fewer SARS-CoV-2 associated deaths are recorded there than in other parts of the world. Researchers in Bonn do not attribute this solely to a lower number of tests performed, but suspect a connection with other infectious diseases.

23.09.2020

Coronavirus: Are parasitic worms responsible for low fatality rates in Africa? | COVID-19 Special

One of the dominant features of parasitic worms is ensuring their survival in the host body by supressing the immune responses... Watch this Deutsche Welle COVID-19 special (DW) where Prof. Achim Hörauf addresses the question as to whether worms have a role in the low fatality rates in Africa.

25.08.2020

Marc Hübner Appointed Professor of Translational Microbiology

Marc Hübner has been appointed Professor of Translational Microbiology within the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) at the Bonn-Cologne site. The professorship is located at the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology where he is a group leader and head of diagnostic parasitology. Prof. Hübner studied biology at the University of Hohenheim and did his PhD in…

30.06.2020

Tropical Diseases are Neglected Again

During the pandemic, the treatment and control of many diseases are postponed, especially in the least developed countries. In these countries, neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) have been tackled for years with the help of drug donations. To a large extent, these donations were enshrined in the London Declaration of 2012. However, this agreement with 13 international pharmaceutical manufacturers…

29.06.2020

Erasmus+ Program

The University of Bonn has a strong regional focus on research cooperation with countries in the Global South. The Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology (IMMIP) has for over 20 years had an equal partner research cooperation with the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine. In July 2020, the cooperation between IMMIP and KCCR /KNUST was further…

04.05.2020

Artificial intelligence in the fight against river blindness

In order to evaluate the success of treatments against onchocerciasis, the nodules must be removed from the patient's skin and analyzed. Using microscopes, experts examine thin histological sections from these nodules in order to assess sex, vitality and embryonic development of the nematodes and the presence of the endosymbiotic bacteria. This process is very time-consuming and the results…

18.12.2019

IMMIP and KCCR, Kumasi, Celebrate 20 Years of Research Cooperation

The University of Bonn maintains an above average number of agreements with univer-sities and research institutions in Ghana. One of these long-term agreements celebrated its 20th jubilee in 2019. Prof. Dr. Achim Hörauf from the Institute for Medical Microbiology, Immu-nology and Parasitology (IMMIP) has worked with the Kumasi Centre for …

02.12.2019

Public-Private Partnership Launched to Develop New Drugs for Roundworm Infections

A new consortium of research institutes, universities, non-profit organizations, and pharmaceutical companies, has been formed. The HELP consortium aims to develop new drugs for infections caused by parasitic worms (helminths), which are group of parasites that cause debilitating diseases like river blindness, lymphatic filariasis, as well as infection with hookworm and whipworm. Together these…