New head of the Fraunhofer IZI-BB – Prof. Dr. Antje Bäumner
Press release of the MWFK | Minister of Science Dr. Manja Schüle gave a welcoming speech on September 29, 2023 at the Potsdam Science Park in Potsdam-Golm at the ceremonial introduction of Prof. Dr. Antje Bäumner as the new director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology – Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses Branch (IZI-BB)
“With Antje Bäumner and the IZI-BB, what belongs together comes together: With her international experience and her research focus in the fields of biotechnology, bioanalytics and biosensor technology, the new head of the Fraunhofer Institute in Potsdam is a perfect fit for the IZI-BB and Brandenburg. Both the experiences with corona and the challenges of caring for patients in rural areas show that we need a strong biotechnology and biosensors industry: We need strong biotechnological and pharmaceutical research – but we also need innovative solutions in digital diagnostics. IZI-BB stands for both. This also makes it a perfect partner for our planned university medicine in Cottbus and the ‘Lusatian Health Model Region’. I’m looking forward to Antje Bäumner’s input and working with her!”
Prof. Dr. Antje Bäumner: “I am delighted to find that the Fraunhofer IZI-BB combines the fields of bioanalytics and bioprocesses, which I was already enthusiastic about and continuously involved in during my studies. I feel that I have arrived professionally between these two poles of bioanalytics and bioprocesses. For me, academic and applied Fraunhofer research are a dream team for tackling societal challenges and finding solutions.”
Prof. Dr. Antje Bäumner officially took over the management of IZI-BB on August 15, 2023. She has also headed the Institute of Analytical Chemistry, Chemo- and Biosensors at the University of Regensburg since 2013. She is President of the ‘International Association of Environmental Analytical Chemistry’ and editor of the journal ‘Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry’. Her research focuses on the development of biosensors and micro-total analysis systems for the detection of pathogens and toxins in food, the environment and for clinical diagnostics. Her research includes the development of novel nanomaterials such as liposomes and nanoparticles. Antje Bäumner has received numerous awards for her research.
More than 100 employees work at the Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses branch of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Potsdam-Golm. The institute’s research focuses on innovations in the fields of food and environmental analysis, diagnostics and bioprocess engineering. The research and development services are aimed at biotechnological and diagnostic companies, among others. The Potsdam branch of the institute was founded in 1998 and has been part of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in Leipzig since 2014. The federal and state governments support the work of the Potsdam research facility with around 3.5 million euros annually.