A team of 14 scientists work for the department of research, education, and development (IML red). They explore new options for innovative diagnostic tools for TB and mycobacteriological diagnostics. Major research focuses are the development and clinical evaluation of RT-qPCR and targeted sequencing assays for the detection and therapy monitoring of TB. All activities have the goal of supporting the world-wide efforts to fight TB with higher efficacy and to help medical doctors to treat patients faster and more reliably.

Along with research, the IMLred experts manage multiple international collaboration projects. They provide technical assistance and consultation services to national TB programs and the national reference laboratories of the countries for which a partnership has been endorsed by WHO.

Languages spoken:
Native/Fluent: German, English, Russian, Belarusian, Bulgarian, Spanish
Basic level: Italian

The IML is located on the campus of a very renowned Lung Hospitals with the currently largest TB department in Germany, with which a strong clinical and scientific collaboration as evolved over the years. Decontamination, culture inoculation, PCR preparation, species identification, and phenotypic drug susceptibility testing are performed with more than 35’000 diagnostic samples per year in five large bio-safety cabinets (BSC) with three additional BSCs which are used for molecular biology and research purposes only.

Due to the variability and excellence of our expertise, a number of research projects can be managed at any given time. In the case that a high urgency or priority projects is needed, our team of experts can immediately react and make this possible. Numbers and sizes of Bactec MGIT 960, incubators, BSCs, PCR cyclers, and other key equipment provide sufficient space and possibilities for new scientific studies.

All laboratory methods are conducted in line with our extensively validated SOPs.
The easy to maintain, reliable and well-structured Quality Management System of IML has now been successfully implemented in six high prevalence countries. One NRL of those has reached ISO 15189 accreditation, two other ones the ISO 15189 maturity level.

The SRL Gauting provides yearly external quality assessments (EQA) for 15 partner laboratories including nine NRLs.
For optimal standardization of EQA, IML Gauting has developed and intensely validated a fully standardized artificial sputum with biochemical components, texture and consistency almost identical to human sputum. Furthermore, IML has almost unlimited access to bio-samples from all around the SYNLAB group which enormously facilitates the compilation of validation or quality control panels for partner laboratories.