Mission and Values

Our Mission

In many parts of the world it has proved possible to push back the spread of infectious diseases; however, they are not yet defeated quite the opposite, in fact: microbes are developing resistance to medicines; global trade and foreign travel are transporting pathogens around the world at an ever faster pace. Tuberculosis, AIDS, hepatitis and malaria threaten the health of millions of people.

At TWINCORE medical personnel and basic research scientists from various disciplines conduct infection research side by side. Our focus is upon translational research the interface between basic research and clinical development.

The goal is to enable the latest findings from basic research to lead to new therapies or diagnostic procedures for patients in the shortest of times. At the same time, basic researchers are looking for answers provided by the clinical work. A further key component of these tranlational bridges spanning research and practice is the approval procedures that we are required to complete for clinical applications. Our scientists at TWINCORE support the development of new strategies to combat infectious diseases by creating a scientific basis for risk assessment in advance of the clinical trials.

Our Culture

The TWINCORE faculty and management place great value on the identification of all staff with the centre. This identity is based on common values and behaviours, which are shared amongst all staff and guide our mutual interactions and our multidisciplinary research approach. Together, they define how we act and interact with each other and set the path on which we strive towards our goals. They form the corporate culture of TWINCORE, on which all management and leadership decisions are based.

The corporate culture at TWINCORE is summarised in the following statements:

  • We work together in a collaborative manner and make use of the synergies that result from the combination of different talents.
  • We strictly maintain our scientific integrity and apply the principles of Good Scientific Practice.
  • We maintain a strong culture of constructive feedback and respectful accountability.
  • We recognise and appreciate all individual contributions to our common goals.
  • We align our behaviour with our mission and our shared values.
  • We treat all employees with respect, tolerance and empathy.
  • We create an atmosphere of trust and transparency amongst each other, particularly between supervisors and their team members.
  • We place great value on the health of our staff and maintain a safety culture to preserve and foster it.
  • We meet our challenges with a positive and open attitude.
  • We offer and use opportunities for individual growth through advanced training and professional education.
  • We facilitate a healthy life-domain balance for all staff and support flexible work conditions.
  • We guarantee psychological safety in the interaction with each other.
  • We rely on diverse, tolerant and inclusive teams.
  • We align our actions with a sustainable development of our institution and its environment.

Our commitment to sustainability 

At TWINCORE, we strive to fulfil our translational mission in the most sustainable way possible. While we recognise that our research itself contributes to a sustainable future for humankind (SDG 3, “Good Health and Well-Being”), we firmly believe that we bear responsibility for a sustainable development of our direct sphere of influence. We apply a holistic approach and place equal value on the three dimensions of environmental, economic and social sustainability.
 

We have anchored our commitment to sustainability in our corporate culture: “We align our actions with a sustainable development of our institution and its environment.” Based on this, we have implemented sustainability mainstreaming in order to evaluate all management decisions with respect to their impact on the three dimensions of sustainability.

The Head of Administration, Dr. Albrecht Goez, has been appointed as Sustainability Officer and is the first point of contact regarding all aspects of sustainability. In addition, the Sustainability Workgroup (SWG) has been collecting, discussing and implementing practical ideas with respect to sustainability since 2021.