Project Group Alliances
We are members in several alliances of the Leibniz Association and other consortia. In some cases, the coordination of the consortia was or is located at the Department NWC.
Since 2011, the Leibniz-Science Campus “Plant Based Bioeconomy - from Molecules to Society” works under joint coordination with the University of Halle (spokespersons Prof. L. Wessjohann and Prof. M. Pietzsch [previously Prof. K. Pillen]).
We also actively participate in the Leibniz Research Network "Biodiversity" , the Trisustain network on African bioactives research, the Agrochemical Institute Piesteritz (AIP) and others. Furthermore, the coordination of the Leibniz Research Alliance “Bioactive Compounds and Biotechnology” is located at our Department (spokespersons Prof. L. Wessjohann, Prof. A. Brakhage, Dr. D. Janasek), which is presented in more detail below.
Leibniz Research Alliance Bioactive Compounds and Biotechnology
Medical research, secure agricultural production, a modern healthy diet and personal hygiene are unimaginable without the development of active pharmaceutical agents. Active compounds are molecules that cause a defined physiological change in target organisms. Many of them are derived from nature and are optimized for application using biotechnological or chemical processes. The best known active compounds are in pharmaceuticals such as acetylsalicylic acid in Aspirin or taxol® in cancer drugs. But active compounds of high social or economic relevance are also found in plant protection products to secure crop yields, in foods, for example as flavor additives or substances with preventive health benefits, as well as in cosmetics (such as active ingredients for skin problems).
Our rapidly changing, growing and ageing modern society demands continuous responses to new challenges. In addition, modern active agents must meet ever higher demands in terms of efficacy, novelty and safety which means a firm basis in toxicology is required for competent risk assessment.
Involving 16 institutions, the Leibniz Research Alliance Bioactive Compounds and Biotechnology bundles the Leibniz Association’s broadly-based research on molecules with biological effects.
This page was last modified on 04 Feb 2025 04 Feb 2025 04 Feb 2025 04 Feb 2025 .