About the project
The Infection Network supports clinical and clinical-epidemiological studies in the field of infection medicine and aims to help strengthen the research landscape in Germany in the long term. It is the first specialist network in the NUM Study Network (NUM SN) and builds on the established structures of the National Pandemic Cohort Network (NAPKON) and the NUM Clinical Epidemiology and Study Platform (NUKLEUS).
Through close cooperation with university institutions, research networks and scientists, study-relevant processes in infection research will be further standardised and automated. Centralised platforms for automated feasibility analyses and patient screening are being expanded with an extended portfolio of typical queries in the field of infections. The aim is to implement studies faster and more effectively and to provide high-quality data and biosamples for research projects. This should create a scientifically sound basis for decision-making in medical care and enable new therapeutic approaches.
The Infection Network pursues the overarching goal of systematically strengthening clinical infection research in Germany and increasing its international competitiveness. The aim is to increase the proportion of patients participating in studies, provide high-quality data and biosamples for research and sustainably improve medical care for patients through innovative treatment options. The following priorities are particularly emphasised:
- International networking: Active participation in international infection research and involvement in global networks and platform studies in order to increase the visibility of Germany as a study location and strengthen its representation at international meetings and conferences.
- Optimisation of study processes for efficient patient recruitment: Standardisation and automation of study-relevant processes, including the digital infrastructure, to reduce bureaucratic hurdles and speed up recruitment. In addition, the aim is to establish and evaluate structures that ensure the sustainable organisation of the specialist network.
- Rapid response capability and pandemic preparedness: Establishment of flexible structures for the prompt identification of suitable patients according to defined inclusion and exclusion criteria and for adapting to new scientific issues and health crises. This also includes the efficient management of an anonymous prescreening log for infections treated at the sites in order to be able to react quickly to changing challenges.
Despite the existing foundations, the implementation of the specialist network for infections is a complex task. Various regulatory and ethical requirements must be harmonised with scientific validity and legal requirements. The project also requires close interdisciplinary collaboration between medical, epidemiological and technical experts. In order to ensure the quality and efficiency of the processes across all sites, uniform standards must be established and continuously improved.
The specialist network for infections is being implemented in several phases under the coordination of Frankfurt. The project is currently in the pilot phase with 15 participating university hospitals until July 2025. In this phase, the focus is on the introduction of standardised screening procedures to improve patient recruitment and the establishment of the necessary structures and networking at the sites.
In the following project phases, administrative processes, contract structures and communication channels will be standardised with the central support of NUM SN in order to conduct clinical trials more efficiently. Close cooperation with other specialist networks within the NUM SN also promotes interdisciplinary exchange and enables the flexible utilisation of resources.
With these measures, the Infection Network actively contributes to sustainably strengthening infection research in Germany and transferring innovative scientific findings into practice.