topic Research

Basic Research in the Life Sciences

Core fields of molecular life sciences such as human genome research, proteome research, systems biology and bioinformatics give us a deeper understanding of the complex and dynamic processes of life down to the molecular level and they provide us with new methods enabling the systematic analysis and description of biological processes. A great variety of applications in biomedical research are thus becoming available. Our knowledge of the molecular processes going on in the cell, the organism and the body provides us with the prerequisites for research into human diseases and the development of therapeutic and preventive interventions based on such research.

As a supporting measure in the field of genome and medical research, the German Federal Government is systematically supporting preventive research which looks as the risks involved in genetic engineering and supports the long-term replacement and reduction of animal tests.

Germany has increasingly pursued the strategic development of medical research since 1998, in particular through methods under the Framework Programme on Biotechnology - Using and Shaping Its Opportunities and under the Federal Government's Programme Health Research - Research for People. The rapid increase in knowledge in the molecular life sciences in addition makes it very clear that a natural science discipline alone very quickly reaches its limits as regards a holistic understanding of life. This is the point where new fields of action emerge which must be approached by means of integrative, overarching research promotion in order to enable us to gain deeper insights into the processes of life.