Global events and crises, such as pandemics and climate change, are rapidly changing the way we live our lives.
Innovative solutions for human health – that’s what is needed. We at Fraunhofer ITEM are pioneers for sustainable health – health that is lasting, individual, eco-friendly and affordable.

Due to the institute’s proximity to the Hannover Medical School, researchers at Fraunhofer ITEM in Hannover have the opportunity to work directly with human lung tissue from operated patients, to extract living lung slices and cultivate these in the laboratory. These "mini-lung pieces" are used to simulate infections, to investigate interactions of the pathogens with human tissue and thus to test the efficacy of new drugs.

Why do I have trouble breathing? About 5 percent of all Germans suffer from asthma. No wonder that scientists are searching for new drugs to alleviate their suffering. Unfortunately, animal testing is currently the only means to find out if a chemical causes allergies. Fraunhofer ITEM is now working on an animal-friendly alternative.

How runny is your nose? How badly does it itch? How often do you have to sneeze? How plugged up are you? Her allergy makes Julia the perfect candidate for the pollen challenge chamber study. The aim is to test the efficacy of a new cortisone agent against hay fever that is administered as a nasal spray.