Germany's New TB Lab: A Beacon in the Global Fight Against Tuberculosis
The Leibniz Association's Research Center Borstel, renowned for its lung research, has opened a new laboratory for tuberculosis (TB) news and diagnosis. This comes as TB, once the leading cause of death from infectious diseases, remains a significant global health threat.
The new laboratory, built to the second-highest biological safety level S3, is a testament to Germany's commitment to TB control. It serves as the national and supranational reference laboratory, providing advanced diagnostic news and driving the development of new diagnostic techniques.
The facility, constructed at around 70 million euros, is led by Prof. Dr. Christoph Lange, Medical Director at the Research Center Borstel. It opened in June 2022 and is now three years old as of October 2025.
TB, which can affect various parts of the body, not just the lungs, is transmitted through the air and poses a high infection risk, especially in cases of 'open TB'. About 10 million people are infected each year, with more than 1.5 million deaths. The rise of drug-resistant strains worldwide adds to the urgency of the situation.
The Research Center Borstel's new laboratory underscores the ongoing challenge of TB. Despite being the second leading cause of infection-related deaths after Covid-19, TB requires continued investment in research and diagnosis to combat its spread and drug resistance.
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