Preparing for Future Pandemics: Launch of the New Leibniz Lab.
Hamburg, March 21, 2024 – The new Leibniz Lab “Pandemic Preparedness: One Health, One Future” brings together the expertise of 41 Leibniz institutes to strengthen Germany’s readiness for future pandemics. For the first time, research in virology, bacteriology, mycology, and immunology is being closely linked with fields such as ecology, health technologies, economics, and education. This unique, interdisciplinary collaboration will be funded with three million euros over three years. The goal: to anticipate, prevent, and respond to pandemics more effectively. The knowledge gained will be translated into evidence-based policy recommendations, providing decision-makers with the insights they need to act quickly and responsibly. Pooling expertise in this way is not just innovative — it’s long overdue.
"At the Leibniz Lab, we unite expertise across institutes to study respiratory pathogens — viruses, bacteria, and fungi — and their impact on both acute illness and long-term consequences. This kind of collaboration is unique in Germany and long overdue, given that most past pandemics, especially influenza, were caused by respiratory pathogens," says Prof. Dr. Gülşah Gabriel, head of the Virale Zoonosen – One Health department at the Leibniz Institute for Virology (LIV) and spokesperson for the new Lab.
"Future pandemics must not again leave children and young people behind in their education or worsen psychosomatic health problems. Our work in education and spatial research will generate knowledge on how schools and other institutions can continue their teaching and caregiving responsibilities during crises," explains Prof. Dr. Olaf Köller, scientific director of the Leibniz Institute for Science Education (IPN) in Kiel and co-spokesperson of the Lab.
for Science Education (IPN) in Kiel and co-spokesperson of the Lab. "Pandemics are a global challenge — neither prevention nor effective response can succeed if countries act in isolation. In the Leibniz Lab, we aim to strengthen healthcare system resilience, improve the use of scarce medical resources to save lives, and develop strategies for stronger international cooperation", adds Dr. Michael Stolpe, head of the Global Health Economics department at the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and co-spokesperson of the Lab.
