New specialist network for infections: faster clinical studies!

New specialist network for infections: faster clinical studies!

On May 23, 2025, the “Infections Specialist Network” was launched, the first of its kind as part of the study network of the University Medicine Network (NUM). The initiative is intended to significantly improve clinical research in the field of infectious medicine and thus implement clinical studies more quickly and effectively. The first patient to provide biosamples and clinical data was obtained at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf, where a dengue virus infection is present. The specialist network is implemented under the coordination of the University Medical Center Frankfurt.

A central goal of the specialist network is the systematic collection of clinical data and biosamples from patients suffering from infectious diseases. These are to be collected at a total of 15 university locations in Germany over the course of the project. The cohort, which is expected to enroll patients in the studies by 2030, will advance medical research in the country and develop new therapeutic approaches. The first activities are part of the pilot phase, which lasts until July 2025.

Increased efficiency through standardization

In the pilot phase, the specialist network focuses on the introduction of standardized screening procedures to improve patient recruitment and the development of necessary activities and structures at the participating locations. Close collaboration with other specialist networks within the NUM SN aims to promote interdisciplinary exchange. These measures are intended to provide central support and thus further increase the efficiency of clinical studies.

In addition, a “master’s study protocol” will be introduced. This enables standardized and quality-assured collection of patient data and biosamples, which ensures high data integrity and comparability. The first five research areas selected within the study are respiratory infections, bloodstream infections, gastrointestinal infections, emerging pathogens and nervous system infections.

Challenges and solutions

Clinical and clinical-epidemiological studies in Germany face numerous challenges, including scientific, technical and organizational problems - often facilitated by complex contractual systems and country-specific regulations. In order to address these difficulties, the NUM study network has set itself the goal of creating an efficient network for clinical studies and reducing organizational hurdles. Measures to increase visibility and promote local infrastructure at university hospitals are intended to help increase efficiency.

A central aspect of the project is the introduction of a digital recruitment platform to identify potential study participants. This digital solution is being developed by Dresden University Medicine and is intended to help formalize inclusion and exclusion criteria and enable interactive evaluation against clinical data.

The University Medicine Network includes all 37 German university medicine locations, which enables comprehensive linkages and cooperation in research. The question of rapid response to new pathogens and health crises is also addressed by the new structures in the specialist network. Biosamples and data are available to the scientific community after applications have been reviewed.

In the long term, the specialist network aims to promote practice-changing research results and accelerate the availability of modern therapies. Further specialist networks, including for intensive care and stroke medicine, are being planned. These initiatives are part of the NUM's overall strategy to massively improve the efficiency and quality of clinical studies in Germany.

Overall, the establishment of the infection specialist network is seen as a decisive step towards strengthening infection research in Germany, which is intended to have a positive influence on patient care through the targeted transfer of innovative scientific findings into practice.