Center for Infection Prevention (ZIP) – Hub for foundation research
The Center for Infection Prevention (ZIP) serves as a central hub for pioneering research in phage biology. Its mission is to uncover the molecular mechanisms behind phage-driven bacterial inhibition. In parallel, ZIP is dedicated to transforming these scientific discoveries into practical therapies by advancing the core research and developing innovative, scalable, and clinically optimized delivery solutions.
“At TUM, we stand for a unique culture of innovation, one that thrives at the interface between fundamental science and translational application. The Bavarian Competence Center for Phage Therapy (BayPha) perfectly embodies this spirit: it unites excellence in microbiology, immunology, data science, and clinical research to develop the next generation of precision antimicrobial therapies.
As Executive Director of the Center for Infection Prevention (ZIP), my mission is to create an environment where interdisciplinary collaboration drives innovation and scientific excellence in infection research. ZIP provides an ecosystem that integrates advanced research infrastructure, state-of-the-art technology platforms, and strong scientific and clinical partnerships; an ideal setting for initiatives like BayPha to accelerate discovery and translation.
Together, ZIP and BayPha form a powerful alliance: fundamental understanding meets clinical innovation. By combining TUM’s strength in basic science and translational medicine with BayPha’s focus on phage-based therapeutics, we are building a foundation for sustainable infection prevention and treatment strategies designed for the challenges of tomorrow’s healthcare.
Our vision is clear: To transform cutting-edge infection research into real-world solutions that protect human health.”
Bavarian Competence Center for Phage Therapy (BayPha) – Bridging research and clinical practice
While ZIP lays the groundwork through basic scientific research, BayPha acts as the clinical counterpart, dedicated to turning phage research into real-world, tangible therapeutic solutions. Our mission is to identify, optimize, and provide highly specific phages for the treatment of multidrug-resistant infections in clinical environments.
Prof. Li Deng, Director of BayPha
"As a phage biologist, my vision is to bridge the gap between cutting-edge phage research and clinical phage therapy to cure life-threatening multi-drug resistant bacterial infections. My laboratory employs an integrative approach combining single-cell technologies, culture-independent techniques, multi-omics, and machine learning to decode the complex mechanisms of phage-host interactions and their impact on human health.
At BayPha, I lead our mission to transform these scientific insights into life-saving treatments for patients facing antibiotic-resistant infections. We are building a comprehensive ecosystem that spans the entire therapeutic pipeline: from our curated phage bank targeting ESKAPE pathogens and WHO priority bacteria, through personalized phage matching and isolation for individual patients, to our planned on-site GMP facility that will enable rigorous clinical trials and rapid therapeutic deployment.
My vision is clear: "From individual cures to clinical validation: building the evidence base for future phage therapy as a new generation of antimicrobial therapy." By uniting rigorous research with compassionate clinical application, we aim to establish phage therapy not as a last resort, but as a validated, accessible treatment option that gives hope to patients when antibiotics can no longer help."
Clinical Application
Phage therapy is a highly targeted treatment approach for combating bacterial infections, especially those caused by antibiotic-resistant pathogens. In Germany, it is currently often used as an "individual treatment trial" when established antibiotic treatments have been exhausted or are no longer effective. The principle is precise and personalized: the disease-causing bacterial strain is isolated from each patient. Subsequently, a targeted search is conducted in a comprehensive phage bank for those phages that effectively combat exactly this strain. This susceptibility testing, also called a phagogram, ensures that a tailored and highly specific treatment is developed for the patient.
Following the identification of effective phages, they can be prepared as a patient-specific medicinal product, a so-called "magistral formula". BayPha aim to bridge the gap between basic research and clinical application by supporting the entire process – from phage identification and characterization to its provision for therapy. The application of the phage preparation can vary depending on the site of infection, for example, locally on wounds, orally, or as an aerosol. Our overarching goal is to use these personalized approaches as a basis to scientifically validate phage therapy through clinical trials and to make it accessible as an established, safe treatment option for a broader group of patients.