Institute of Virology

The Institute of Virology at the Philipps University of Marburg focuses on studies on a whole range of zoonotic and vector-borne infections, which are usually caused by new or re-emerging viruses. This work, which originated in the discovery of the Marburg virus in 1967, has since expanded to include other highly pathogenic viruses such as Ebola virus, Lassa virus, Nipah virus, Influenza viruses, and several Flavi- and Coronaviruses. The Institute operates one of the four class 4 high-biosecurity laboratories in the Federal Republic of Germany and thus represents a competence center with a unique profile in diagnostics and research of highly infectious viral diseases.

The institute's tasks in teaching include lectures, seminars, and practical training of students in the study programs of medicine, dentistry, and pharmacy, as well as the training of students in the BSc and MSc programs of biomedical sciences (Humanbiologie).

In addition, the Institute of Virology in Marburg carries out virus diagnostics for the University Hospital Giessen and Marburg (UKGM) and functions as the national reference center for filoviruses.