In Brief
BRICS with HZI and TU Braunschweig
The Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research and the Technical University Braunschweig jointly establish the "Braunschweig Integrated Centre for Systems Biology" (BRICS). The newly developed system biology centre is intended to model complex interrelations in biological research. The predictions then can be experimentally tested in the laboratory. The BRICS brings together natural scientists from various disciplines as well as engineers in order to provide answers to health research questions using system biology methods. The research goal is to develop new medication, treatments and strategies against pathogenic organisms. Thus the BRICS is also an important pillar of the Translation Alliance in Lower Saxony (TRAIN).
"Systems biology leads us to entirely unexpected, new approaches to treatment", explained Prof. Dieter Jahn, Spokesman of the BRICS Board of Directors. "For example, we have used system biology to investigate infections of the urinary tract. The investigation revealed that during infection the pathogenic organisms are dependent on specific nutrients. If they are supplied with these nutrients, they change their behaviour during the experiment and clearly do no longer cause an illness. We were only able to arrive at this astonishing result because of the holistic approach of system biology.
"The new building is being built on the campus of the TU Braunschweig in direct proximity of the Haus der Wissenschaft (House of Science). Together with the TU Braunschweig the federal state of Lower Saxony funds this new building project with a total of 26 million Euro. The BRICS will have a second site on the campus of the HZI.
