Pathogenesis and immune responses are very complex, multi-component processes. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes is essential for their regulation and the development of new therapies. Our Life Sciences Block Allocation Group (BAG) for synchrotron research at the ESRF includes groups from Georg-August University of Göttingen (Germany), Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research Structural Biology, Braunschweig (Germany), Rudolf Virchow Center for Biomedical Research, Würzburg (Germany), University of Bielefeld (Germany), Hannover Medical School (Germany) and University of the Western Cape, Cape Town (South Africa). The research of our BAG is focused on the structural, mechanistic, and functional studies of a broad range of medically relevant biological systems, with an aim to develop new therapies in the areas of emerging infections, antimicrobial resistance, chronic inflammatory conditions, and oncogenesis.