Teaching at the Max von Pettenkofer Institute
There is no doubt that infectious diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites are of great social importance. In this regard, the interdisciplinary education of nearly 1000 students of the next generation of human physicians, dentists, pharmacologists and biologists annually at our institute plays an important role.
We strive to impart knowledge at the interface of disease patterns, state-of-the-art diagnostics, and cutting-edge international research through a blend of proven and innovative teaching formats.
Students of human medicine are taught microbiology, virology, hospital hygiene and immunology through traditional lectures, practicals, seminars as well as interactive training such as inverted classroom, hybrid lectures and online courses with case presentations in the 1st clinical year (5th semester).
Students of dental medicine in the 2nd study section participate in traditional lectures with a focus on prevention of nosocomial infections.
The education of pharmacy students consists of a lecture part and a laboratory practical. The focus here is on the effects of antiviral, antibiotic and immunomodulatory therapies.
Students in the elite Master’s Program in Human Biology complete a lecture cycle and laboratory practicals with a focus on diagnostics, pathogenesis, and therapeutic targets in infectious diseases.
Students in the Biochemistry and Molecular & Cellular Biology Master’s Programs and the Elite Master’s Program Human Biology, as well as undergraduate students in Biology and Computer Science, participate in the “Molecular Virology” lecture series and the “Advances in Molecular Virology” seminar. For a complete module of the Master’s programs, additional 4- to 8-week laboratory practicals are offered.
Public relations is another important component of knowledge transfer with broad impact in infection research. We implement this through interviews, public lectures and focal events, e.g. on World AIDS Day, for schoolchildren.
There is also the possibility to complete a clinical traineeship or a tertial in hygiene/microbiology and virology as part of the practical year.
Max Josef Pettenkofer (1818-1901), physician, physiologist, chemist and pharmacist, founded the Max von Pettenkofer Institute at LMU Munich named after him and is considered Germany’s first hygienist. Among other things, he developed a technique that helped to sanitise the water system in Munich during times of recurring cholera outbreaks. Not least because of its new sewage system and a central drinking water supply, Munich was considered one of the cleanest cities in Europe at the end of the 19th century. Constant communication of his knowledge among experts, students and the public was part of Pettenkofer’s self-image.
Contact Course Secretary
Ms Iris Reinhardt
Max von Pettenkofer Institute
80336 München