Research Field Health

Health Research in the Helmholtz Association aims to unravel the complex causes of major chronic diseases and develop novel strategies for prevention, early diagnostics and effective therapies for the benefit of patients.

The programmes in the funding period 2014-2018

Research activities at the Helmholtz Health Centers are organized in three closely interrelated areas:

- Excellent basic research
- Analysis of complex biological systems
- modeling of disease processes

Major activities in these three research lines are pursued at five Helmholtz Centers: the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, the Helmholtz Center Munich – the German Research Center for Environmental Health (HMGU), the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI), the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) Berlin-Buch, and the nationwide German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE). Other Centers that provide important contributions to specific programs are the Research Center Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR), the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research (UFZ), and the Helmholtz Center for Heavy Ion Research (GSI).

Our disease-oriented programs and a joint strategy for the third period of program-oriented funding (2014-2018) put the Research Field Health within the Helmholtz Association in an excellent position to make important contributions to the challenging area of biomedical research.

Research is currently being conducted in five programmes.

Research Programmes

Cancer Research

The goal of the Cancer Research Programme is to make significant improvements in the prevention, early detection, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

More details about Research Programme Cancer Research

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease

The programme’s aim is to examine the causes of nervous system disorders and create more efficient methods for their prevention, diagnosis, treatment and care.

More details about Research Programme Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease

Infection Research

This programme concentrates on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the development and course of infectious diseases.

More details about Research Programme Infection Research

Disorders of the Nervous System

Being able to grow old is not just a blessing. Unfortunately, older people are more likely to suffer from neurological and psychiatric illnesses.

More details about Research Programme Disorders of the Nervous System

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Common Diseases

Diabetes, pulmonary illnesses, cardiovascular diseases, disorders of the nervous system and cancer result from the complex interplay between genetics, environmental factors and personal lifestyles.

More details about Research Programme Environmental Health

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