Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM)

Scientists at the BNITM conduct laboratory research into the biology of pathogens, their
reservoir animals and vectors as well as the interaction between pathogens and infected hosts.
Clinical research, development of new diagnostics, epidemiology and disease control of
tropical diseases in endemic regions are other areas of focus at the BNITM. In recent years,
the implementation research unit has been established to focus on global health and the
effectiveness and optimisation of interventions. From 2025, the BNITM will establish the
“Computational Science for Pathogen Research and One Health Centre”, which will work
with all the institute's research units to develop innovative, computational solutions to tropical
medicine problems.

Current foci are malaria, worm infections and other parasitoses as well as diseases caused by
arboviruses and haemorrhagic fever viruses. For the handling of highly pathogenic pathogens
and infected insects, the Institute has laboratories of the highest biological safety (BSL-3,
BSL-4) as well as a safety insectarium (BSL-3).

The Institute's services include special laboratory diagnostics for tropical and other rare
infections as well as advice for physicians, science, industry, politics and the public, which
contribute significantly to the Institute's national importance. The Institute houses
the National Reference Centre for Tropical Infectious Agents and the Consultative Laboratory
for Bornaviruses. The Department of Virology at the BNITM is a World Health Organization
(WHO) Collaborating Centre for Arboviruses and Haemorrhagic Fever Viruses, and the
Health Communication Working Group has been designated a WHO Collaborating Centre for
Behavioural Research in Global Health (BRIGHT).

The BNITM coordinates a number of mobile laboratories that strengthen local laboratory
capacity in requesting countries to respond rapidly to outbreaks of serious infectious diseases.

Teaching activities include a three-month, full-day course on all aspects of tropical medicine
for medical doctors, as well as an advanced training programme for doctoral students at the
Institute and a range of continuing education courses on topics related to travel medicine and
international health. Numerous scientists from the Institute are involved in student teaching as
appointed professors of the University and the University Hospital Hamburg.

In cooperation with the Ghanaian Ministry of Health and the University of Kumasi, the
Institute has been operating a modern research and training centre in West Africa for 25 years,
which is also available to external working groups. In addition, there are numerous research
cooperations with scientists and scientific institutions in various African countries. In addition
to Ghana, institutions in Gabon and Nigeria are also key cooperation partners.

As a member of the Leibniz Association, the Institute is jointly financed by the Federal
Government, the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the other federal states as a
research institute of supraregional importance.