Innovations from medicine to engineering — Annalena Baerbock visits Potsdam Science Park
On August 5, Annalena Baerbock visited the Fraunhofer IZI-BB in the Potsdam Science Park and learned about current research projects in the field of Fraunhofer health research as well as the Fraunhofer Center for Digital Diagnostics, which is currently being founded.
Annalena Baerbock, Federal Chairwoman of BÜNDNIS 90/DIE GRÜNEN and Member of the Bundestag, learned about innovations at the interface between medicine, natural sciences, computer science and engineering at the Potsdam Science Park at the Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses branch of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (Fraunhofer IZI-BB) on August 5.
Diagnostics, devices and data are the central topics of the Fraunhofer Center for Digital Diagnostics in Potsdam, which is currently being founded. In addition to the Fraunhofer IZI-BB, the Fraunhofer Institute for Experimental Software Engineering IESE and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI are involved in the center, which is funded by the federal and state governments. The core of the Center for Digital Diagnostics is medical issues, for example in the fields of oncology, cardiology and rheumatology, their analytical recording by means of mobile diagnostics and standardized biosensors, and the processing of the collected data in a digital ecosystem for the benefit of patients.
Under the aspect of mobile diagnostics, Dr. Eva Ehrentreich-Förster, head of Fraunhofer IZI-BB, presented novel sensor systems that detect pathogens and pollutants quickly and regardless of location. On a laboratory tour, Ehrentreich-Förster showed how these sensor systems can be used in patient-oriented diagnostics and therapy support with the support of adequate data transmission and storage.
Annalena Baerbock inquired to what extent the legal regulations regarding the use of digital diagnostics would have to be reformed. At the same time, she emphasized that digital services in the healthcare sector are already improving the lives of many people today. Prof. Dr. Peter Liggesmeyer, Director of Fraunhofer IESE, explained how data protection and patient interests must be weighed up in practice if, for example, a person in need of care could be enabled to remain in their own home instead of permanently undergoing inpatient treatment through a compliant form of data transmission.
The head of Fraunhofer IZI, Prof. Dr. Ulrike Köhl, discussed the importance of digitalization and automation in the field of cell and gene therapeutics.
Annalena Baerbock informs herself about the Potsdam Science Park © Standortmanagement Golm GmbH from Site Management Managing Director Agnes von Matuschka
Finally, Annalena Baerbock received a brief presentation of the constantly growing Potsdam Science Park from the Managing Director of Site Management, Agnes von Matuschka, which – as the location of the University of Potsdam – provides an important infrastructure for joint developments and for the transfer of research results to the healthcare industry, especially with its companies located in the fields of life science, biotechnology and big data for the Center for Digital Diagnostics Represents. In addition to an extensive information portal on the Internet at www.potsdam-sciencepark.de, the site management regularly offers guided tours and site inspections in the Potsdam Science Park.
Further information:
Fraunhofer-Institut für Zelltherapie und Immunologie, Institutsteil Bioanalytik und Bioprozesse IZI-BB
Pressemitteilung Bundestag beschließt Forschungsförderung zu »Digitaler Diagnostik«
Fraunhofer-Institut für Zelltherapie und Immunologie IZI (in Leipzig)
Fraunhofer-Institut für Experimentelles Software Engineering IESE (in Kaiserslautern)
Kontakt
Karen Esser
Referentin PR & Kommunikation
karen.esser@potsdam-sciencepark.de