Helmholtz-Institute Saarbrücken

The Helmholtz Institute for Pharmaceutical Research Saarland (HIPS) is based on the research in the fields of pharmaceutical sciences on campus of Saarland University and infection research at the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI) in Braunschweig.

One of the largest scientific challenges in the field of infectious diseases concerns the growing antibiotic resistance of pathogens. Once restricted to developing countries, resistant pathogens are now spreading in hospitals and in communities in developed countries, requiring massive investments in research to develop novel drugs.

The research of HIPS includes genetic engineering and genome mining for natural products, optimization of lead structures and the delivery of drugs across biological barriers. The combined expertise of the HZI and HIPS will have a unique position within Germany and Europe by interleaving infection and pharmaceutical research, specifically for the development of novel anti-infectives. The complementary expertise will allow concerted and synchronous approaches to the discovery and mining of novel producers of potential drugs, their rational improvement and bioprofiling, and their optimal formulation. This will greatly enhance the chance of identifying und utilizing novel natural products, and advancing them for clinical studies.

Activities and expertise of the groups in HIPS in combination with the activities and expertise of the HZI offer the opportunity of a complete coverage from drug discovery and development to clinical phase IIa studies.

Press Release 24th August 2009 'Saar-Universität erhält Helmholtz-Institut für Pharmazeutische Forschung Saarland'

Website: www.helmholtz-hzi.de/hips