Lothar Wieler

Lothar H. Wieler, a veterinarian by training, is a microbiologist and global public health expert. His initial university research focused on the molecular pathogenesis, genomic surveillance and evolution of infectious agents, in particular zoonotic pathogens and antibiotic-resistant bacterial agents. Based on this experience, he extended his research on public and global health, focusing on disease prevention and containment of pathogens with epidemic and pandemic potential. In addition to respiratory pathogens, he concentrates on antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections. 

In the future, Wieler will extend his research on the prevention of non-communicable diseases, conducting research in the field of digital health, focusing in particular on global public health issues. His goal is to reduce health inequalities by promoting digital public health, at local, national and international levels, with a particular focus on low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). 

Among others, Lothar is member of the Quadripartite Global Leaders Group on Antimicrobial Resistance, the Lancet Commission on Health Threats of the 21st Century, and the Strategic & Technical Advisory Group on Infectious Hazards with Pandemic and Epidemic Potential (WHO). During the COVID-19 pandemic, he was president of Germany's National Public Health Institute, Robert Koch Institute, and chaired the International Health Regulation Review Committee (IHR-RC). He is a member of the National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, where he is Senator of the Section Global Health.