Forschung
IFIK is home to basic and clinical research groups (view links below for detailed information). Currently, more than 30 researchers with backgrounds in medicine and biological sciences work in the IFIK research department. The 3 main research focuses are antimicrobial resistance development, infections of the central nervous system (CNS), and airway and gut mucosal microbial health and infection.
The major human pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae is central to the research of several groups within the Pneumococcal Research Cluster and IFIK also houses the National Centre for Invasive Pneumococci where clinical isolates are characterized. S. pneumoniae is an important cause of bacterial meningitis, as well as pneumonia, and the Leib group researches how brain damage is caused and tests potential treatments. The Hathaway group studies communication between S. pneumoniae and other bacterial members of the respiratory microbiota, whereas the Hilty group characterizes the human respiratory microbiota in health and disease at the molecular level.