Research for Global Health: Visit of Thuringia’s Minister for Economic Affairs, Colette Boos-John, at the Leibniz-HKI

The visit provided an opportunity to present several EU-funded initiatives that contribute to high-skilled job creation and scientific innovation. Among the highlights was a mass spectrometer for imaging applications, acquired in 2023 with support from the European Regional Development Fund. The Minister also visited the Anti-Infectives Transfer Group and the Thuringian Research Group for Robotic Anti-Infective Discovery, both of which benefit directly from these infrastructure investments.

This EU-supported research infrastructure enables the discovery of new natural products, enhances our understanding of microbial ecosystems in health and disease, and supports the development of targeted therapies.

“Our researchers are developing new treatments for infectious diseases—an urgent need in times of global health challenges, including emerging pathogens and rising antibiotic resistance,” said Axel Brakhage, Director of the Leibniz-HKI and Board Memeberi n the Cluster of Excellence "Balance of the Microverse".“At the same time, we’re strengthening the regional economy by fostering innovation, supporting start-ups, and training highly qualified personnel for Thuringia’s high-tech industries. Investing in this value chain offers long-term benefits for both the state and the nation.”

The visit also included insights from Cluster Principal Investigators Pierre Stallforth and Sebastian Hertweck, who presented ongoing research that bridges basic science and real-world applications.

We really value such dialogue between science and policy, which plays a key role in shaping a sustainable, knowledge-based future for global and regional health.