Department of Biomedical Sciences

The Department of Biomedical Sciences consists of ten research units organised in three research groups. We are recognised around the world as leading experts on some of the most important and often neglected pathogens (i.e. parasites, mycobacteria and viruses) and vectors of global public health concern and with outbreak potential. Together with colleagues across ITM’s research departments and in international collaborative networks, we constitute a unique multi-disciplinary critical mass centred around Global Science for a Healthier World.

We strive towards reducing the suffering from tropical infectious diseases through generating fundamental insights in pathogen-host-vector interactions, by studying the patterns and the drivers of adaptation of pathogens and vectors to changing macro and micro-environments, and by innovating tools to improve the diagnosis, surveillance, prevention, treatment and control of infectious diseases around the world. 

We accomplish this mission by combining field-based epidemiological and ecological research with laboratory-based experimental research using advanced state-of-the-art methods and approaches. We share the philosophy to closely connect the excellence and relevance of basic and applied research with capacity strengthening through training, education and staff mobility between ITM and our partner institutions in low- and middle-income countries across Africa, South-America and Asia.