Throughout our lives, we are exposed to a wide range of chemicals, making the safe handling of chemicals very important. At present, legally mandated risk assessments are conducted using classical toxicology, based on data from animal testing. Researchers at Fraunhofer ITEM are actively contributing to the paradigm shift towards animal-free, safer, more effective, and more sustainable risk assessments. They are developing new assessment strategies known as "Next Generation Risk Assessment."

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.