BMBF Initiative “German Centres for Health Research”

Ms Addo, Ms Eggert, Ms Maison and Mr Zimmermann: What makes the DZG so special? (This film is in German)

Ms Ansari, Ms Grunewald, Mr Hashemi and Ms Pagel: What makes the DZG so special for young scientists? (The film is in German)

Image film (in German)

About us

The goal of the six German Centres for Health Research (DZG) is to combat particularly common diseases - the widespread diseases - more effectively. Founded between 2009 and 2012 on the initiative of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the centers (how it all began) bring together non-university research and university partner institutions from all over Germany.

The number of people suffering from or newly diagnosed with widespread diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular, metabolic, infectious, pulmonary or neurodegenerative diseases continues to be a cause for concern.

In the DZGs, scientists work together to ensure that research results reach medical care and thus patients more quickly.

The DZGs have been working closely together since the beginning, including in the areas of biobanking, artificial intelligence, data management, promotion of young scientists, public relations, prevention, global health and regulatory aspects of clinical trials.


++News 19 May 2022++

Ten years of DZG: "Pacesetters in health research"

Four of six German Centres for Health Research (DZG) celebrated their tenth anniversary today with a ceremony in Berlin and around 300 guests from the worlds of politics and science. Federal Research Minister Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Hessian Science Minister Angela Dorn, Berlin State Secretary of Health Dr Thomas Götz, former Federal Research Minister Annette Schavan, Prof. Christian Drosten and BioNTech Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer Prof. Özlem Türeci offered their congratulations at the event and digitally.

Press release

From the left: Dr. Julia Pagel (DZIF), Prof. Dr. Dirk Busch (DZIF), Prof. Dr. Christian Drosten (DZIF), Dr. Theresa Suckert (DKTK), Gesundheitsstaatssekretär Dr. Thomas Götz, Prof. Dr. Michael Baumann (DKTK), Bundesministerin a.d. Dr. h.c. Annette Schavan, Dr. Djawid Hashemi (DZHK), Prof. Dr. Stefanie Dimmeler (DZHK), Prof. Dr. Werner Seeger (DZL), Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Martin Hrabě de Angelis (DZD), Dr. Sabine Helling-Moegen (DZNE), Meshal Ansari (DZL). | © DZG

++News 29 March 2022++

DZG statement on the Russian invasion of Ukraine


We, the German Centers for Health Research, consider the Russian invasion of Ukraine an attack on elementary values of freedom, democracy and self-determination, on which scientific freedom and opportunities for cooperation are based. We are deeply appalled by the recent attacks on civilians, hospitals and universities in Ukraine. We stand in solidarity with our Ukrainian colleagues and equally with our Russian colleagues who oppose this war.

Especially in the light of our mission to bring new medical research results into application more quickly, we would like to offer support to find job opportunities within our research areas. For more information, please monitor our web pages or contact our central offices directly.


Together we hope that this horrific war will soon come to an end.

The German Centers for Health Research

German Cancer Consortium DKTK, dktk@dkfz.de
German Center for Diabetes Research DZD, contact(at)dzd-ev.de
German Centre for Cardiovascular Research DZHK, info(at)dzhk.de
German Center for Infection Research DZIF, info(at)dzif.de
German Center für Lung Research DZL, contact(at)dzl.de
German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases DZNE, information(at)dzne.de


SYNERGIE magazine

RESEARCH FOR HEALTH – under this motto, the German Centres for Health Research publish the SYNERGIE magazine twice a year and report on projects and successes in translational research.

The SYNERGIE magazine is available online  all issues
The printed edition can be subscribed to at  info@dzg-magazin.de


Expert Center for Medicinal Chemistry

MEDICINAL CHEMISTRY - The path from a molecule that emerges in basic research as a promising remedy for a disease to a finished drug can be difficult.

The medicinal chemists at the DZG Expert Center for Medicinal Chemistry help DZG scientists from biomedical research to better and faster realize their idea for a drug.