Fraunhofer Health

Health research at Fraunhofer addresses the four key areas of medical science — drugs, diagnostics, devices and data, or 4D for short. Many innovations emerge at the interface between medical science, natural science, computer science and engineering. With its emphasis on transdisciplinary research, the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft offers the perfect environment for close collaboration on health research and the development of cost-intelligent precision medicine for the benefit of patients.

News

 

Fraunhofer Research Institution for Individualized and Cell-Based Medical Engineering IMTE

Project TINUSA - Innovative solutions for brain tumor resection

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT

Lösungen für die saarländische Wirtschaft im Bereich komplexer Sensorsysteme: Ministerium für Wirtschaft, Innovation, Digitales und Energie am Fraunhofer ZSI

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS

Today’s School for Tomorrow’s Healthcare

In the 2025/26 school year, the new upper secondary specialization called “Digital Medicine” will launch in Bremen, developed by Fraunhofer MEVIS and the Oberschule am Waller Ring. On January 23 and 24, interested students can learn more about the new offering in the school auditorium at Lange Reihe 81 in Bremen.

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI

Robot with washing system for killer cells against cancer

In the EU project AIDPATH (AI powered, Decentralized Production for Advanced Therapies in the Hospital), partners from industry and research across Europe are developing a platform for the production of so-called CAR-T cells for cancer therapy. The prototype, which is currently being set up at the University Hospital of Würzburg (UKW), uses artificial intelligence (AI) to integrate data and biomarkers into the manufacturing process and therapy. The CAR-T cells are to be produced close to the patient directly in the clinic.

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses IZI-BB

TruContact® – Smart Coating for Immunoassays

Antibodies utilized for detecting target structures can be gently and covalently attached to the surface using the eco-friendly TruContact® coating. This innovative technology not only decreases non-specific binding of proteins but also enhances sensitivity and reduces antibody usage by up to 90 percent. Additionally, the researchers at Fraunhofer IZI-BB prioritized environmental sustainability during development, using non-toxic, plant-based raw materials for the coating.

 

Fraunhofer Gesundheit & vfa

Wie Deutschlands Pharmaforschung in die erste Reihe aufrücken kann

Strategiepapier »Pharma F&E 2035 – Deutschlands Inno­va­tionsrahmen für die Zukunft« von vfa und Fraunhofer Gesundheit weist den Weg zu mehr Pharmaforschung in Deutschland

 

Fraunhofer-Institut für Biomedizinische Technik IBMT

Ausbau zukunftsweisender zellbasierter Testsysteme zur Erforschung neuer Wirkstoffe und Arzneimittel im neuen Projekt »ORINTHERA«

Klinische und pharmazeutische Forschung arbeiten kontinuierlich an neuen und besseren Therapien für Krankheiten. Doch bevor ein neues Medikament oder eine neue Therapie als sicher und wirksam eingestuft werden kann, sind oft Hunderte von Tests und Versuchen nötig – ein zeitaufwändiger und teurer Prozess. Am 13. Dezember 2024 besuchte Staatssekretär Tobias Gotthardt aus dem bayerischen Wirtschaftsministerium das Würzburger Fraunhofer-Institut für Silicatforschung ISC und das Fraunhofer-Projektzentrum für Stammzellprozesstechnik SPT, ein gemeinsames Zentrum des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Biomedizinische Technik IBMT und des Fraunhofer ISC. Der schon seit längerem geplante Besuch, der in Anwesenheit der Institutsleitungen beider beteiligter Fraunhofer-Institute IBMT und ISC stattfand, konnte nun auf einen aktuellen Anlass verweisen.

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM

Fraunhofer ITEMs spin-off project Inhale+ receives a boost of €1.3 million

As part of the portfolio conference held by the Institute for Biomedical Translation (IBT) on November 27, 2024, a distinguished jury selected Inhale+ to receive €1.3 million in funding. We are immensely proud that this groundbreaking technology, developed at Fraunhofer ITEM, now reaches patients.

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS

Optimized Therapy for Cruciate Ligament Injuries

Researchers from the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS, the University Medical Center Freiburg, and Stryker Leibinger GmbH & Co. KG have been awarded the Research Prize for Digitalization in Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery 2024 for their publication entitled “Validation of a Finite Element Simulation for Predicting Individual Knee Joint Kinematics.” The award ceremony took place on October 25, 2024, during the German Congress for Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery (DKOU 2024) in Berlin.

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS

TelePeriOP: Virtual surgery preparation

The TelePeriOP clinical study is investigating whether the targeted use of telemedicine in conjunction with a clinical decision support tool (CDS tool) and artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the quality of preoperative care for patients. The main objective is to reduce unnecessary on-site appointments as well as travel and waiting times for patients.

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT

Hidden health risks of endocrine disruptors?

The Fraunhofer Institute for Biomedical Engineering IBMT, with its long-term expertise in cell models and toxicology, contributes to a new EU-funded project on health risks of endocrine disruptors. Endocrine disruptors are chemical substances that may mimic endogenous hormones and thereby interfere with the endocrine system. The EU-funded research project »ENDOMIX«, started in January 2024, aims to comprehensively unravel how exposure to everyday chemicals with endocrine disrupting properties affect human health.

 

Fraunhofer-Institut für Toxikologie und Experimentelle Medizin ITEM

New Opportunity for Cancer Therapy: Miniature Lab Provides Insights into Metastases Development

Every year, around half a million people in Germany are diagnosed with cancer. Despite the existence of effective treatment options for many types of cancer, many questions about the development of the disease remain unanswered. Why does a tumor develop? What factors promote the growth of cancer cells? Why do metastases spread to other organs over time? 

Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI

New agent for the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases

On 1 July, the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology and Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg launched a multi-centre confirmatory preclinical study to evaluate the therapeutic effectiveness of a new agent for the treatment of chronic inflammatory bowel diseases.

 

Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI

Biomarkers for the successful treatment of tumors in the bone marrow identified

CAR-T cell therapy has been established as an effective treatment for various haematological cancers. However, the treatment does not have the same level of success in all patients. In a current clinical study, researchers from the University of Leipzig Medical Center and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI have identified various biomarkers which are linked to the response to CAR-T cell therapy in multiple myeloma, a type of bone marrow cancer. The results of their study were published in the renowned journal Nature Cancer.

Fraunhofer Match

Do you have a research request?

Fraunhofer Match is the central platform for placing research requests with Fraunhofer.  You tell us about your challenge or project - and Fraunhofer Match will put you in touch with researchers who have the right expertise to help you work out solutions. 

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