PD Dr. Velavan has graduated from University of Tübingen and was awarded habilitation from the medical faculty of the Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, Germany. Currently, a Group Leader at the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Eberhard Karls University in Tübingen with a specialization in infectious diseases, in particular fundamental research on host-pathogen interactions, host-directed therapies and molecular diagnostics..

The research group is comprised of young medical doctors, PhD students and scientists from Africa and Asia who are strongly motivated to improve health and research capacities in developing and threshold countries by conducting basic research on various infectious diseases and the establishment of advanced diagnostic techniques. Our group focuses on genetic factors of both the affected host and the disease-causing pathogens. We are interested in viral diseases such as hepatitis B, D, E, and in parasitic diseases, including malaria, and schistosomiasis.