Project

Leibniz-lab "Pandemic preparedness"

The Leibniz Lab is dedicated to enhancing pandemic preparedness by harnessing the interdisciplinary expertise of 41 Leibniz institutions. Its work spans four central domains: exploring how interactions among the environment, animals, and humans contribute to the emergence and spread of pathogens; mitigating the physical and psychological health impacts of pandemics; optimizing pandemic response strategies; and strengthening the resilience of educational systems in crisis contexts. By integrating diverse perspectives, the Lab functions as a dynamic think tank that complements clinical and infection-control efforts, and provides policymakers and civil society with evidence-based guidance. Recognizing the threat posed by emerging respiratory pathogens, the Lab investigates factors such as alternative livestock farming practices to curb zoonotic transmission, population-level immunity, and the biological mechanisms behind severe disease outcomes. These insights inform strategies to reinforce urban infrastructure and healthcare systems, as well as to enhance educational support for students and teachers during pandemic conditions. In addition, the Lab advances frameworks for robust international collaboration on pandemic preparedness and response. At the IWM, researchers contribute to this effort by examining science communication in pandemic contexts—particularly how individuals navigate and make sense of scientific information in environments saturated with conflicting, ambiguous, or misleading messages.

Part of the lab

Duration

04/2024 - 03/2027

Your contact person

Portrait of Markus Huff
Prof. Dr. Markus Huff

Head of Lab

+49 7071 979-215m.huff@iwm-tuebingen.de

Participants

Portrait of Helen Fischer
Dr. Helen Fischer

Scientist

+49 7071 979-282h.fischer@iwm-tuebingen.de
Portrait of Angelina Böhnisch
Dr. Angelina Böhnisch

Scientist

+49 7071 979-325a.boehnisch@iwm-tuebingen.de

Cooperation partners

  • ARL – Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association, Hannover

  • Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine (BNITM), Hamburg

  • DIPF | Leibniz Institute for Research and Information in Education, Berlin and Frankfurt am Main

  • DWI - Leibniz-Institut für Interaktive Materialien, Aachen

  • German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin)

  • German Primate Center (DPZ) - Leibniz Institute for Primate Research, Göttingen

  • German Institute for Adult Education – Leibniz-Centre for Lifelong Learning (DIE), Bonn

  • German Rheumatism Research Centre Berlin (DRFZ)

  • Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH), Berlin

  • Research Center Borstel - Leibniz Lung Center (FZB)

  • INM – Leibniz Institute for New Materials, Saarbrücken

  • IUF – Leibniz Research Institute for Environmental Medicine, Düsseldorf

  • Kiel Institute for the World Economy (IfW Kiel)

  • Leibniz-Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie (FMP), Berlin

  • Leibniz Institute on Aging - Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI), Jena

  • Leibniz Institute for Agricultural Engineering and Bioeconomy (ATB), Potsdam

  • Leibniz Institute for the Analysis of Biodiversity Change (LIB), Bonn

  • Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e.V. (ISAS), Dortmund

  • Leibniz-Institute DSMZ–German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig

  • Leibniz Institute of Ecological Urban and Regional Development (IOER), Dresden

  • Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich (LSB)

  • Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries (IGB), Berlin

  • Leibniz Institute for High Performance Microelectronics (IHP), Frankfurt (Oder)

  • Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology - Hans Knöll Institute (HKI), Jena

  • Leibniz Institute for Neurobiology (LIN), Magdeburg

  • Leibniz Institute of Plant Biochemistry (IPB), Halle (Saale)

  • Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology (IPHT), Jena

  • Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP), Greifswald

  • Leibniz Institute for Psychology (ZPID), Trier

  • Leibniz Institute for Resilience Research (LIR), Mainz

  • Leibniz Institute for Science and Mathematics Education (IPN), Kiel

  • Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), Leipzig

  • Leibniz Institute of Virology (LIV), Hamburg

  • Leibniz Institute for Zoo and Wildlife Research (IZW), Berlin

  • Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors (IfADo)

  • Museum für Naturkunde - Leibniz Institute for Evolution and Biodiversity Science (MfN), Berlin

  • PRIF - Peace Research Institute Frankfurt

  • RWI - Leibniz Institute for Economic Research, Essen

  • Senckenberg Society for Nature Research (SGN), Frankfurt am Main

  • ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, Mannheim