The Institute of Med. Microbiology, Immunology and Parasitology is part of the Medical Faculty and located at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB). Headed by Prof. Achim Hoerauf, the institute conducts research and teaching in medical microbiology whilst also providing all microbiological diagnostic services for the Medical Center. The institute is a founding member of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), partner site Bonn-Cologne, and the Excellence Cluster ImmunoSensation². 

Since their discovery of the intracellular Wolbachia bacteria as a drug target for therapies against filariasis 20 years ago and introduction of doxycycline as the first safe macrofilaricide, development of new drugs and regimens against onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis has been a major preclinical and clinical research activity. Preclinical studies, supported by the Drugs for Neglected Disease initiative (DNDi), the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) and DZIF being conducted in collaboration with partners from industry and academia, e.g. the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, led to the discovery of several new preclinical candidates, three of which were recently tested in “first-in-human” studies. IMMIP has been collaborating with many partners in Sub-Saharan Africa and performed more than 15 clinical trials according to GCP standards.