The historical review presents outstanding scientific achievements obtained by members of the institute during the first 60 years of its existence. They may be summarized as follows: 1. The significance of Gustav Giemsa for stabilizing the Romanowsky stain and revealing its mechanism. 2. The discovery of the etiology of typhus fever by Enrique da Rocha-Lima. 3. The discovery of the extra erythrocytic stage of avian malaria parasites by Eduard Reichenow and Lilly Mudrow. 4. The discovery of the etiology and life cycle as well as the classification of the causative agent of Echinococcus multilocularis by Hans Vogel. 5. Demonstration of the development of specific immunity to Schistosoma japonicum in Rhesus monkeys by Hans Vogel. The studies of Bernhard Nocht and his associates in the twenties are presented in short reviews.