Infectious diseases

The Infectious diseases program is one of the largest programs in the Netherlands with both fundamental, clinical and psychosocial and epidemiological research programs in different infections.
Attacking the pathogen and restoring the immune responses to counteract infectious diseases

The research is focused on different topics and includes studies on bacterial, viral and tick-borne pathogens (such as COVID-19, HIV-1, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Borrelia garinii, Borrelia afzelii and Mycobacterium tuberculosis), host-pathogen interactions, pathogen recognition, induction of immunity and immune-suppression. This comprises fundamental research as well as clinical studies in patients on antibiotic treatment and resistance, epidemiology, immune responses during infection and vaccine studies.

Mission & goals

The goal of the Infectious diseases program is to understand infectious diseases in man and to identify host and microbial factors for the pathogenesis of infectious diseases. This will allow the generation of fundamental insight into infection biology, immunology and clinical microbiology and create a platform for vaccine development as well as other novel strategies to treat infections. This program also aims to study the psychosocial burden of the studied diseases on patients. In addition, epidemiological studies will be performed within the program to identify new emerging infectious diseases and resurgence of old ones. The combination of fundamental and clinical research in this program will lead to improve treatment, control and prevention.

Program leaders

Program members