Fight against multidrug-resistant pathogens

TUM opens Center for Infection Prevention

“The ZIP brings together expertise from multiple disciplines, creating an environment where new prevention strategies can be developed in a targeted way and translated into practice as quickly as possible,” says Prof. Dietmar Zehn, Director of the ZIP and Professor of Animal Physiology and Immunology at TUM.

The leadership team reflects this approach: alongside Dietmar Zehn, Prof. Percy Knolle (Molecular Immunology), Prof. Li Deng (Prevention of Microbial Infectious Diseases), Prof. Bernhard Küster (Proteomics and Bioanalytics), and Prof. Benjamin Schusser (Reproductive Biotechnology) represent a broad spectrum of expertise—ranging from microbiome research and microbiology to immunology, technology, and translational research.

One example is the use of phages—viruses that exclusively infect bacteria and can be used therapeutically, especially when antibiotics no longer work. Researchers also see strong potential in personalized medicine. In the future, it may be possible to determine before treatment whether a patient carries a heightened risk of infection with multidrug-resistant organisms, allowing for more tailored therapies from the outset.

Connecting Expertise for the Benefit of Humans and Animals

Bavarian Minister-President Dr. Markus Söder says: “Bavaria is a global leader in science—and TUM one of its flagship institution. With the new research center dedicated to combating drug-resistant pathogens, we are expanding our interdisciplinary life sciences cluster. Across 2,700 square meters, innovative strategies for the prevention, control, and containment of pathogens in humans and livestock will be developed. Research in this area is a crucial field for the future: according to projections, by 2050 more people could die from drug-resistant pathogens than from cancer. That is why we are taking decisive action. The State of Bavaria is covering the lion’s share of the funding with 40 million euros for the research facility, with an additional 20 million euros coming from the federal government. Knowledge is the future: Only through technology and innovation will we secure our prosperity and provide young people with inspiration and opportunities. With the Bavarian High-Tech Agenda, we are investing a total of seven billion euros in research and science—from bio-life sciences to AI and aerospace to quantum computing.”

Prof. Thomas F. Hofmann, President of TUM, says: “With the ZIP, we are taking another step forward in our TUM Convergence4Medicine strategy. Under one roof, we bring together our outstanding expertise in medicine with the life sciences, bioinformatics, and artificial intelligence. We link animal health with human health, while also strengthening the competitiveness of our agricultural sector and public health systems.”

Prof. Martin Klingenspor, Dean of the TUM School of Life Sciences, says: “The ZIP is a striking example of the One Health strategy at the TUM School of Life Sciences. Solutions to global challenges can only emerge through interdisciplinary collaboration, as this is the only way to do justice to the complexity of living systems.”