Research Report 2010 2011 - Helmholtz-Zentrum für ...

14 FOCUS | The German Centre for Infection Research (DZIF) – a Great Chance for the HZI – an Interview
The scientists whose studies have gone into the application
process for the DZIF are already employed. They have been
working on their scientific objectives for many years now.
And today the objectives of the DZIF are added to this. Are
resources being restocked? What will the finances from the
DZIF be used for?
DH: First of all, money is being used to build up infrastructure
and expertise. This will allow us to do justice to
the claim that we work and live scientifically according to
translation principles. For example we shall, by means of
specific appointments, strengthen the research in bioactive
compounds on the HZI campus. This means that colleagues
will be specifically financed through the DZIF. An appointment
in bio-informatics would be equally conceivable. We
are investing new financial means primarily into this. Of
course, this does not forbid colleagues to incorporate their
expertise into the major thematic topics. A few examples
are: Eva Medina in staphylococci, Thomas Pietschmann in
hepatitis and Susanne Häußler in resistant gram-negative
bacteria. And, by the way, for this purpose we are bringing
a considerable portion of capital resources into the DZIF.
Let us return to the topic of translation, which represents a
primary concern of the DZIF. The HZI has already achieved
much in this regard. We already have the Translation Alliance
in Lower Saxony, TRAIN, and there is the TWINCORE
Centre for Experimental and Clinical Infection Research.
There are partners here who shall become a part of the
DZIF and who are already connected with one another in
their translation activities. What will interaction with the
DZIF look like?
DH: Without TRAIN, we would conceivably not have TWIN-
CORE either. It is possible that the expert evaluators would
have perceived the basic research here in Braunschweig and
the clinical research in Hannover as isolated site activities
that only collaborate on small projects. Giving money to
such facilities would probably not raise expectations that
they would be doing research together in a superordinate
structure in five years. TRAIN and TWINCORE thus were
the pre-conditions for the fact that we are forming, jointly
with the MHH, such a momentous double site within the
DZIF. I view the DZIF as a consistent continuation of our
translation activities. We are currently expanding beyond
local activities, with topics that are specified within the
DZIF, and make use of the strong local structures for this
purpose. One should realize that TRAIN and TWINCORE
are dealing with other projects as well, as opposed to those
which are planned in the DZIF.
… I view the DZIF as a consistent continuation of our translation
activities…. Photo: HZI; Gramann
What does the work at the DZIF specifically mean for the
HZI? Will the employees here on campus notice that the
DZIF exists?
DH: Some employees will strongly notice, but certainly not
all. We did not involve all departments directly in our application
to the DZIF. We placed our emphasis on host-pathogen
interactions and functional genome research, but most of all
on active compounds. Colleagues who are involved in these
areas will actively participate in the corresponding topics.
They will become part of a translation pipeline.
And when will it all begin?
DH: Presumably in the summer of 2011, but in the autumn
at the latest. After appraisal of the joint application in April,
a decision will be made. We will then know whether all
specifically-announced research projects within the DZIF
will be funded in their entirety*. When all these decisions
have been made, we can start. We are already looking forward
to working with all of our partners.
The interview was performed through the Public Relations
Department of the HZI in March 2011.