Heinrich Pette Institute for experimental Virology and Immunology

Portrait

The Heinrich-Pette-Institute - organized as a private foundation - is involved in researching the biology of human viruses, the pathogenesis of viral diseases as well as the immune reactions of organisms and correlated problems. The institute is a non-profit public beneficiary and an independent member of the so-called Wissenschaftsgemeinschaft Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz (WGL). At national level the institute is affiliated to the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Security (BMGS) and on behalf of the state governments the authority of Science and Research (BWF) is responsible for the HPI.

Founded in 1948 as "Stiftung zur Erforschung der spinalen Kinderlähmung" (Foundation of Polio Research), the HPI has become an institute which is integral to Hamburg. The neurologist Heinrich Pette, who influenced and organized the scientific concept and development of the institute decisively until his death in 1964, and the industrialist Philipp F. Reemtsma, who donated one million Reichsmarks, are the most important founders. Everything had begun after World War II in the small cellar rooms of just a few square metres situated in the neurological clinic of the Eppendorf hospital. Here the first experimental research on polio had been performed as a response to the poliomyelitis epidemic in Hamburg and northern Germany.

Since then, much has changed. Not only was the HPI continuously expanded and modernized structurally to today’s outer appearance, but also the research fields have changed repeatedly during the course of time. In the early years, polio and other inflammatory diseases of the nervous system, especially Multiple Sclerosis, formed the scientific focus. After incidences of polio had declined due to vaccination, the development of which the HPI had contributed to substantially, the interest concentrated increasingly on fundamental immunological, virological, cell biological and biochemical research. In general, examinations concerning the structure and function of different viruses, virus-cell and virus-host interaction as well as pathogenesis and therapy of viral diseases are central for the research at the HPI.

The flexible administrative structure of the foundation favours taking up new tasks in medicine - a great advantage in the field of infectious diseases, where the need for research can quickly change due to scientific progress and a changed medical need important for society. Besides the permanent departments of the institute, there are temporary departments forming flexible units, which are able to include new research fields and to react to new scientific demands.

Today, a wide spectrum of viruses, like hepatitis B-, leukaemia-, HIV- and retroviruses, keep the scientists of the various departments and working groups occupied. Molecular oncology as well as development and application of gene therapy are additional focuses and form the scientific profile of the institute well renowned in German and international virology. Apart from the still important fundamental research, the application of medical results in diagnosis and therapy has become important over the last years. This trend is seen in an increase of applicable research and is reflected by numerous patents and bio-technical firms established by the HPI.

Heinrich Pette Institute for experimental Virology and Immunology
Martinistraße 52
20251 Hamburg
Tel: +49 (0)40 / 480 51-0
Fax: +49 (0)40 / 480 51-103
E-Mail: hpi@hpi.uni-hamburg.de

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Further Information: www.hpi-hamburg.de/