Main Content

DZL German Center for Lung Research

The German Center for Lung Research (DZL) was founded in autumn 2011 as one of six German Centers for Health Research (DZG)and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the federal states in which the - respective site groups are located. Leading scientists and clinicians in the field of lung research collaborate in the DZL to drive and develop new innovative therapies for patients with lung diseases.

Since 2011, there has been a cooperation with Gießen/Marburg/Bad Nauheim under the umbrella of the Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center (UGMLC) – this includes the Justus Liebig University Gießen, Philipps University Marburg and the Max Planck Institute for Heart and lung research in Bad Nauheim.

At the "Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center" (UGMLC), the focus is on translational research into lung diseases triggered by inflammatory and hyperproliferative processes. This includes investigating the influence of environmental factors before and after birth in the development of asthma as well as the development and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), with a focus on changes in the airways and vessels.

In the disease area "Pneumonia and Acute Lung Injury" (ALI), the role of innate immunity and inflammatory mechanisms during acute illness and the healing and repair process are primarily researched. In the disease areas "Diffuse Parenchymatous Lung Disease" (DPLD) and "Pulmonary Hypertension" (PH), molecular and cellular mechanisms are being investigated, to help develop effective regenerative therapies.

Here, the partners of the UGMLC complement each other through an interplay of basic research and clinical research, which is given by the integration of the Max Planck Institute, the universities and the hospital. The focus in Marburg is on asthma and COPD, in Giessen on ALI, DPLD and PH. In the field of „Pulmonary Hypertension“, Giessen is a center of national and international reputation.  At the Max Planck Institute in Bad Nauheim, the focus is on stem cell research, developmental biology and cellular signal transduction.

Further synergies result from collaboration with the other DZL sites and other networks (e.g. AsCoNet = Competence Network Asthma and COPD; COSYCONET = German COPD and Systemic Consequences - Comorbidities Network) as well as local research networks such as the Cluster of Excellence Cardio-Pulmonary System (ECCPS), whose successor the Cardio-Pumonary Institute (CPI) was approved in September 2018. Within the DZL, the UGMLC is home to the DZL office and the DZL biobank and data management platform.

Further informatione, please click here

Contact: Prof. Dr. med. Harald Renz