The Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology – Hans Knöll Institute (Leibniz-HKI) – was founded in 1992 and has been a member of the Leibniz-Association since 2003. The scientists at the Leibniz-HKI carry out research into natural products from micro-organisms and into the infection biology of pathogenic fungi. Novel discoveries of natural products are investigated for their biological activity and modified purposefully for possible drug applications. In this context, the institute has been maintaining a rich tradition in Jena bringing in cutting-edge approaches to solutions and research methods beyond that. The Leibniz-HKI is firmly integrated into the most important Thuringian research centre, the Beutenberg Campus Jena. Beyond the close corporation with the neighbourhood institutes, we collaborate intensively with the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena, the Jena University Hospital and the University of Applied Sciences Ernst-Abbe in Jena. This leaves a link in numerous joint research projects and a strong commitment of our staff to academic teaching. Approximately 430 members of staff are currently employed at the Leibniz-HKI. The insitute is organized around five scientific departments, among them the Bio Pilot Plant. Further structural units possessing an integrative function are independent junior research groups and cross-disciplinary units such as the Jena Microbial Research Collection, the Transfer Group Anti-infectives and the International Leibniz Research School.
