125 Years Robert Koch Institute - The Public Health Institute

Abstract

Originally founded as the Royal Prussian Institute of Infectious Diseases on July 1st 1891 with Robert Koch as its director, the Robert Koch Institute has since experienced dramatic changes to achieve its present standing as the German National Public Health Institute. Today the institute is part of an international network for public health research and development. Its two major areas of responsibility lie in combatting infectious diseases and analysing health trends in the population but it also focuses on developing methods and drawing up scientific standards. Moreover, the RKI is very active in the field of qualifying scientists, including doctoral dissertations and trainee programmes. The RKI depends on the excellence of its scientists. Without their fundamental and measure-related research activities the institute would be unable to file recommendations for improving public health. The institute is run by the efforts of its more than 1,100 dedicated employees who, with their over ninety different professions, transform the institute’s vision to protect health and explore risks into reality, an excellent basis for providing sound recommendations to political decision-makers. This booklet gives an insight into the Robert Koch Institute as it stands 125 years after its foundation.