Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNI)

The Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNI) is Germany’s largest institution for research, care and education in tropical diseases and emerging infections.

Investigations at the BNI include clinical research, epidemiology and disease control, as well as the biology of pathogens, their animal reservoirs and vectors. Currently the focus is on malaria, haemorrhagic fever viruses, tuberculosis and tissue nematodes. The institute has maximum biosafety level (BSL4) laboratories and a secure insectarium (BSL3) to handle highly pathogenic viruses and infected insects. The BNI’s recent outstanding scientific achievements include the identification of the SARS coronavirus and the discovery of a previously unknown developmental stage of the malaria parasite in humans.

The institute’s services contribute significantly to its overall national significance and include special laboratory diagnostics of tropical and other rare diseases, a close collaboration with the German armed forces for medical care during operations in the tropics as well as advice for science, industry, policy and the general public. The institute serves as the national reference centre for tropical pathogens, the reference laboratory for the SARS-corona virus and the World Health Organisation (WHO) Collaborating Centre for haemorrhagic fever viruses.

On the strength of its research, proximity and affiliation with the Leibniz Association, the BNI is one of the HPI’s most important partners along with the Research Center Borstel-Leibniz Center for Medicine and Biosciences (FZB). Together the three institutes form the Leibniz Center Infection (LCI).