Biodiversity and Health

The research topics pursued by the institutes of the section focus on the following four key areas:

Biodiversity: Which species exist or have existed on our planet? How did this biodiversity come about, and what are its characteristic processes? Why is diversity important, and how adaptable are the planet’s ecosystems? How can biodiversity be preserved and yet sustainably utilised? How can a growing global population be supplied with safe and healthy food?

Infection and inflammation: How can pathogens – i.e. viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites – be effectively controlled in humans, animals and plants? How do we deal with new pathogens? What causes the increase in chronic inflammatory diseases, and how can these be healed?

Lifestyle, the environment and healthy ageing: What effects do nutrition, work conditions, stress and other environmental factors have on our health? How can we stay mentally and physically healthy our entire lives? What is the best way to prevent illness?

Bioactive compounds and biotechnology: Which bioactive compounds can be found in nature, and how do we develop new ones? How can bioactive compounds be improved and produced using biotechnology for use in medicine, food production and agriculture?

Alongside their research laboratories, the institutes operate important research infrastructures which – among other things – generate and utilise research data: specialist clinics, technology platforms, research collections and field stations.

The range of methods used in the research approaches also includes animal testing when no alternatives are available. The researchers are here bound by the 3R principle (replacement, reduction, refinement). They take their great responsibility very seriously, and communicate openly and pro-actively on animal-testing-based research.

Research museums make complex research topics accessible to the general public. The social involvement of the Leibniz Institutes and their research topics is reflected in activities geared towards the transfer of knowledge, as well as in active civic participation (citizen science).