Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine
The Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM) is Germany’s largest institution for research, teaching, consulting and care in the field of tropical diseases and emerging infectious diseases. It is an independent, non-profit institution in the form of a foundation under public law as well as a national reference center for tropical infectious agents and WHO collaborating center for arboviruses and hemorrhagic fever viruses. The BNITM is a member of the Leibniz Association.
Goal
The goal of the Institute is to make a significant contribution to the fight against and control of infections, locally as well as globally.
Responsibilities
Research
One of the main tasks of the BNITM is research in the field of tropical medicine. Modern laboratory research on the biology of pathogens, their reservoir animals and vectors, as well as clinical research in tropical and travel medicine, field research and disease control, and implementation research in resource-poor countries are carried out. The Institute has special laboratories of the highest biological safety levels for handling highly pathogenic agents and infected insects.
Teaching
Academic teaching at BNITM includes education and training of students, researchers, physicians and other health professionals. Since the diseases considered at BNITM are mostly rare in this country, they are usually treated only cursorily in university teaching and other medical training courses in Germany. Thus, the annual “Diplomkursus Tropenmedizin” prepares physicians for professional activities in tropical and infectious medicine. Furthermore, the institute organizes workshops and courses for scientists in the field of epidemiology and control of disease outbreaks. In addition to teaching, the BNITM focuses on the education and training of doctoral students, among others, within the framework of various graduate schools.
Supply services
The care services of the BNITM include special laboratory diagnostics for tropical and rare infections as well as an emergency service for suspected infections with hemorrhagic fever viruses. The National Reference Center for Tropical Infectious Agents provides consultation and diagnostic services for clinicians and diagnosticians nationwide. The Department of Virology at BNITM hosts the WHO Collaborating Center for Arboviruses and Hemorrhagic Fever Viruses (WHOCC) and provides diagnostic and consultation services for imported cases of tropical viral diseases throughout Europe. In addition, BNITM’s expertise provides advice to industry, policy makers and the public.
International
BNITM maintains numerous national and international cooperations with universities, research institutions and organizations. This includes research as well as training programs. Within the framework of the GHPP, BNITM is particularly involved in projects to combat infectious diseases.
For more information on the BNITM, please click here.
Projects
Interventions to Prevent and Control Infectious Disease Outbreaks in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
Molecular SURVeillance of INfectious Diseases in Sao Tome and Principe
Assessing and Building Capacities: Decentralised Structures of Madagascar's Public Health System
Expansion of AMR surveillance in Ghana and Tanzania