Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine
Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine

Excellence and networks

Active exchange and collaboration

Only those who engage in professional exchange and knowledge transfer can sustainably influence the progress of research. For this reason, we are actively involved in numerous networks and committees, allowing us to participate in decisions that affect our research areas.

Would you like to know more?

Here you can find information about committee work, academic activities, and speaker roles of Fraunhofer ITEM scientists.

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  • Prof. Dr. Christian Bär

    • M.D./Ph.D. Commission Molecular Medicine of the Hannover Biomedical Research School (HBRS) of the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Ph.D. Examination Board for Anatomy and Cell Biology at the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Nucleus member of the Working Group on Myocardial Function (WG 4) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
    • Member of the Working Group on Cardiovascular Regenerative and Reparative Medicine of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC)
    • Nucleus member of the working groups on myocardial function and energetics “AG 13 Myokardiale Funktion und Energetik” and on cardiovascular regeneration “AG 31 Kardiovaskuläre Regeneration” of the German Cardiac Society (DGK)
    • Program Committee Medical Scientist Programme of the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Member of the editorial board of the international journal “Molecular Therapy Nucleic Acids“
    • Reviewer for numerous national and international organizations and foundations, incl. German Research Foundation (DFG), German Cardiac Society (DGK), Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF), Irish Research Council (IRC) and AFM-Telethon, Horizon 2020 (HADEA)
    • Reviewer for international journals in cardiovascular diseases and therapies (incl. “Nature”, “Nature Medicine”, “Nature Communications”, “Nature Reviews Cardiology“, “European Heart Journal“, “Circulation Research“, “Cardiovascular Research“, “npj Regenerative Medicine“, “Advanced Science“, “ESC Heart Failure“, “Basic Research in Cardiology“, “Molecular Therapy“, and “Circulation”)
    • Associate Editor for the journal "Molecular Therapy"

     

    Dr. Annette Bitsch

    • Board member of the German Toxicology Society (GT)
    • Working Group on Endocrine Effects of the German Society of Toxicology (GT)
    • Reviewer for project proposals submitted to the German Federal Environmental Foundation (DBU)

     

    Katharina Blümlein Ph.D.

    • Working group on analyses in biological materials “Analysen in biologischem Material” of the German Research Foundation (DFG)

     

    Prof. Dr. Armin Braun

    • MD/Ph.D. commission “Molecular Medicine” of the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
    • External assessor for international foundations
    • Reviewer for international journals in respiratory medicine and immunology (incl. “Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology”)

     

    Dr. Franziska Breuer

    • German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Commission on Plant Protection Products and Biocidal Products

     

    Dr. Gustav Bruer

    • Working Group on Respiratory Toxicology of the German Toxicology Society (GT)
    • Reviewer for international journals in pharmacology and toxicology (“Nature Research – Scientific Reports”)
    • German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Commission on Consumer Products
    • German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), Committee on Toxicology

     

    Dr. Sylvia Escher

    • OECD Expert Group on Systemic Toxicity
    • Working Group on Computational Toxicology of the German Toxicology Society (GT)
    • German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Commissions on Evidence-Based Methods in Risk Assessment and Contaminants in the Food Chain
    • Working Group 1 (WG1) of the European Research Area (ERA) Policy Action on New Approach Methodologies (NAMs)

     

    Priv.-Doz. Dr. Jan Fiedler

    • Program committee for the Ph.D. program “Regenerative Sciences” at the Hannover Biomedical Research School (HBRS)
    • Reviewer for international journals in cardiovascular research

     

    Dr. Ulrich Froriep

    • German Society for Implant Research and Development (DGIFE)
    • Member of the Focus Group Medical Technology of the IVAM Microtechnology Network
    • MDR Competence

     

    Dr. Jens Gerdelmann

    • Working Groups on GLP quality assurance/monitoring “GLP: Qualitätssicherung/Überwachung”, GCP quality management “GCP-Qualitätsmanagement”, and medical devices “Medizinprodukte” of the German Quality Management Association (GQMA)

     

    Dr. Stefan Hahn

    • Chair of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) Division of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology
    • Member of the German Chemical Society (GDCh), Division of Water Chemistry Society “Wasserchemische Gesellschaft”
    • Working Committee on Chemical Risk Assessment of the German Chemical Society (GDCh) division of Environmental Chemistry and Ecotoxicology “Umweltchemie und Ökotoxikologie”
    • Member of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES); Working Group on Exposure Models of ISES Europe
    • Member of the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry
    • Reviewer for international journals in environmental and exposure sciences (incl. “Environmental Science Europe”, “Annals of Work Exposures and Health”, and “Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology”) 

    Martina Heina

    • IT Division of the International Association for Pharmaceutical Technology (APV)
    • Working Groups on Archiving and Information Technology of the German Quality Management Association (GQMA)

     

    Dr. Christina Hesse

    • Member of the research network “Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease Hannover” (BREATH) within the German Center for Lung Research e. V. (DZL)

     

    Dr. Martin Hoffmann

    • Working Group on Bioinformatics at Comprehensive Cancer Center Ostbayern (CCCO)

     

    Prof. Dr. Jens Hohlfeld

    • External assessor for the German Research Foundation (DFG)
    • Steering Committee of the research network “Biomedical Research in Endstage And ObsTructive Lung Disease Hannover” (BREATH) within the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
    • Board member of the Interdisciplinary Allergy Center of the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Reviewer for international journals (incl. “American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine”, “European Respiratory Journal”, and “Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology”) 

     

    Stefanie Katzensteiner

    • Working Group on GCP Quality Management of the German Quality Management Association (GQMA)

     

    Dr. Rupert Kellner

    • Councilor for electronic communication and member of the Executive Board of the European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP)
    • Global Editorial and Steering Committee (GESC) for the initiative “International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria for Lesions in Rats and Mice” (INHAND)

     

    Prof. Dr. Christoph Klein

    • External assessor for numerous national and international organizations and foundations: German Research Foundation, German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Wilhelm Sander Foundation for Cancer Research, ERC, Deutsche Krebshilfe, Christian Doppler Research Association, Dutch Cancer Society, Association for International Cancer Research, EU-FP7, MRC, Cancer Research UK, Kegg-Foundation
    • Deputy chairman of the scientific committee of Comprehensive Cancer Center Ostbayern (CCCO)
    • Deputy spokesperson of the “Lighthouse Group – Omics, Genomics and Liquid Biopsy” of the Bavarian Center for Cancer Research (BKFZ)
    • Member of the advisory board of Bioᴹ Biotech Cluster Development GmbH
    • Reviewer for international journals in oncology (incl. “Nature”, “Nature Biotechnology”, “Nature Cell Biology”, “Nature Medicine”, “Cancer Cell”, “Science”, “PNAS”, “American Journal of Pathology”, “Cancer Research”, “Clinical Cancer Research”, “International Journal of Cancer”, “Nucleic Acid Research”, “European Journal of Immunology”, “Lancet Oncology”, “European Journal of Cancer”, “PLOS ONE”, and “Oncotarget”) 

     

    Prof. Dr. Norbert Krug

    • Chair of the Clinical Trial Board of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
    • Steering committee of the research network “Biomedical Research in Endstage And ObsTructive Lung Disease Hannover” (BREATH) within the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
    • External assessor for the German Research Foundation (DFG)
    • Steering Committee of the Fraunhofer Research Cluster “Immune-Mediated Diseases” (Fraunhofer CIMD)
    • Scientific Advisory Committee of the German Society for Allergology and Clinical Immunology (DGAKI)
    • DEAL project group of the Alliance of Science Organizations in Germany
    • Working Group “Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and Deutsche Hochschulmedizin”
    • Reviewer for international journals in allergology, immunology, and respiratory diseases
    • Selection Committee for NIHR Research Professorships, UK

     

    Prof. Dr. Nico Lachmann

    • Member of the Mentoring Program "German Stem Cell Network" (GSCN)
    • Member of the Mentoring Program "via:mento international", Kiel University (Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel)
    • Jury Member Joachim Herz Fellowship Program, Joachim Herz Foundation, Hamburg
    • Jury Member, ScheringPlus Fellowship Program, Schering Foundation, Berlin
    • Board Member, PhD Program "Regenerative Sciences", Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Organizer of the International UniStem Day (Hannover), Hannover Medical School
    • Extended Board of the German Stem Cell Network (GSCN)
    • EU Deputy Representative of the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Senate Section II of the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Spokesperson and coordinator of the Medical Scientist Kolleg “Regenerate Organ Function; nextGENERATION” at the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Steering Committee REBIRTH – Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine at the Hannover Medical School (previously REBIRTH cluster of excellence “From REgenerative BIology to Recontructive THerapy”)
    • External assessor for numerous national and international organizations incl. the European Research Council (ERC) and the German Research Foundation (DFG)
    • Reviewer for numerous international journals (incl. “Nature”, “Nature Immunology”, “Nature Reviews Immunology”, “Nature Reviews Disease Primer”, “Nature Communications”, “Nature Communications Medicine”, “Nature Biomedical Engineering”, “Cell Stem Cell”, “iScience”, “Stem Cell Reports”, “eBioMedicine”, and “AJRCCM”)

     

    Dr. Oliver Licht

    • Working Group on Regulatory Toxicology of the German Toxicology Society (GT)
    • Public relations delegate of the German Toxicology Society (GT)
    • German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Commission on Consumer Products

     

    Fabian Müller

    • MDR Competence

     

    Dr. Meike Müller

    • Network of ombudspersons in Lower Saxony

     

    Dr. Gerhard Pohlmann

    • MDR Competence

     

    Priv.-Doz. Dr. Bernhard Polzer

    • Reviewer for the Wilhelm Sander-Stiftung for Cancer Research, the Carl-Zeiss-Stiftung, and the German Research Foundation (DFG)
    • Reviewer for international journals in the fields of pathology and oncology (Cancers, Chemical Science, Cytometry A, International Journal of Cancer, Journal of Visualized Experiments, Oncotarget, Scientific Reports, Expert Reviews of Molecular Diagnostics, and Molecular Oncology)
    • Member of the clinical study groups “Primary and Secondary Malignant Brain Tumours in Adults” and “CNS Tumours in Children and Adolescents”, and member of the “Lighthouse Omics/Genomics Liquid Biopsy” at the Bavarian Center for Cancer Research (BKFZ

     

    Prof. Dr. Antje Prasse

    • External assessor for the German Research Foundation (DFG)
    • Board member of the Scientific Working Group for the Therapy of Lung Diseases (WATL)
    • Board member of Deutsche Atemwegsliga e. V.
    • Board member of the World Association of Sarcoidosis and other Granulomatous Disorders (WASOG)
    • Coordinator of the ILD group in the European Reference Network on Respiratory Diseases ERN-LUNG
    • Spokesperson for the disease area “DPLD” in the research network “Biomedical Research in Endstage And ObsTructive Lung Disease Hannover” (BREATH) within the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
    • Deputy member of the Ph.D. admissions committee of the Hannover Medical School (MHH)
    • Reviewer for international journals (incl. “American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine”, “European Respiratory Journal”, “Journal of Clinical Investigation”, “JCI Insights”, “Nature Communications”, “American Journal of Respiratory and Cell Biology”, and “Thorax”)
    • Associate editor of “PLOS ONE”

     

    Prof. Dr. Tobias Pukrop

    • Chairman of the working committee on malignant tumors of the CNS “ZNS Malignome” of the German Society of Hematology and Oncology
    • Board member/deputy speaker of CCC Alliance WERA
    • Steering board of the working panel on CNS/leptomeningeal spread “ZNS/Meningeosis” of the working group on internal oncology “Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie (AIO)” of the German Cancer Society (DKG)
    • Steering board of the Molecular Tumor Board of the University of Regensburg
    • Steering board of the Brain Tumor Center (ZHT) of the University of Regensburg
    • Executive Board of the Bavarian Center for Cancer Research (BKFZ)
    • European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)

     

    Priv.-Doz. Dr. Susanne Rittinghausen 

    • “Guess What” committee of the European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP)
    • Global Editorial and Steering Committee (GESC) for the initiative “International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria for Lesions in Rats and Mice” (INHAND)
    • INHAND (International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria) organ working groups “Respiratory System”, “Endocrine System”, “Special Senses”  and “Soft Tissue”
    • Wissenschaftliches Mitglied der ständigen Senatskommission zur Prüfung gesundheitsschädlicher Arbeitsstoffe (MAK-Kommission) der DFG
    • DFG Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission)

     

    Dirk Schaudien Ph.D.

    • INHAND (International Harmonization of Nomenclature and Diagnostic Criteria) working groups “Non-rodents: Minipig”, “Respiratory System”, and “Skeletal Tissues (Bones, Joints and Teeth)”
    • “Pathology 2.0” committee of the European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP)
    • “Guess What” committee of the European Society of Toxicologic Pathology (ESTP)

     

    Dr. Stefanie Scheffler

    • Working Group on E-Cigarettes and Liquids for E-Cigarettes of the DIN Standards Committee “Food and Agricultural Products”
    • Reviewer for the international journals “Cardiovascular Toxicology” and “Scientific Reports”

     

    Dr. Sven Schuchardt

    • Treasurer of the German Society for Metabolome Research
    • Working group on air analyses “Luftanalysen” of the German Research Foundation (DFG)
    • Leibniz-Institut für Analytische Wissenschaften – ISAS – e. V. (Leibniz Institute for Analytical Sciences)
    • SAE AC-9M Cabin Air Measurement Committee

     

    Dr. Florian Schulz

    • DFG Senate Commission for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area (MAK Commission): working group on the definition of threshold limit values for dusts
    • Committee on Hazardous Substances of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs (AGS), Subcommittee III “Hazard Assessment”, Working Group Metals and Working Group Fibers/Dust
    • Advisory Board of the European Certification Board for Mineral Wool Products (EUCEB)
    • External expert in the quality control committee of the mineral wool quality assurance association “RAL-Güteqemeinschaft Mineralwolle” (GGM)

     

    Dr. Katherina Sewald

    • German Center for Lung Research (DZL): Young Scientists committee
    • Member of the Expert Group Human Tissue of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI), Europe
    • Executive committee on basic research in the research network “Biomedical Research in Endstage And ObsTructive Lung Disease Hannover” (BREATH) within the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
    • Mentor in the Fraunhofer TALENTA career program for female scientists
    • External assessor for international research grants
    • Reviewer for the international journals

     

    Dr.-Ing. Ute Urban

    • MDR Competence

     

    Dr. Jens Warfsmann

    • Working Group on Bioinformatics at Comprehensive Cancer Center Ostbayern (CCCO)

     

    Prof. Dr. Lena Wiese

    • Special interest group “Digital Health” and Working Group on Data Science and Data Engineering of the German Informatics Society

     

    Dr. Dorothee Winterberg

    • Working Group on Respiratory Toxicology “Respirationstoxikologie” of the German Toxicology Society (GT)
    • Association of Inhalation Toxicologists (AIT)
    • German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
    • Member of the Drug Commission (AKZ) of the German Dental Association

     

    Dr. Christina Ziemann

    • Chair of the Working Group on Statistics of the German Society for Environmental Mutation Research (GUM)
    • Working Group on Genotoxicity of the DIN Standards Committee “Water Practice”
    • Working Groups on Genotoxicity and Carcinogenesis “Gentoxizität und Kanzerogenese” and on Respiratory Toxicology “Respirationstoxikologie” of the German Toxicology Society (GT)
    • Member of the program committee for the annual German Pharm-Tox Summit (GPTS) of the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT) for contributions from the German Society for Toxicology (GT)
    • OECD pool of experts of the German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment
    • Reviewer for international journals in genetic toxicology, nanomaterials, and quartz

  • University teaching activities (2025/2026; as of May 28, 2026)

     

    Dr. Mania Ackermann

    Hannover Medical School

    • Lecture series M33, Development of Cell Therapeutics: “Macrophages for Cell-Based Therapies”

    Prof. Dr. Christian Bär

    Hannover Medical School

    • Graduate school Hannover Biomedical Research School, lecture: “Non-Coding RNA in the Cardiovascular System”
    • Graduate school Hannover Biomedical Research School, lecture: “Telomeres in Health and Disease”
    • Study program “Biochemie”, elective course: WP13
    • Study program “Biomedizin”, elective course: WP46

    Prof. Dr. Armin Braun

    Hannover Medical School

    • Lecture: “Immunology”

    Franziska Breuer

    Leuphana University Lüneburg

    • Lecture: “Sustainable Chemistry”, module F10 “Law, International Regulations and Chemicals Management – Food Safety”

    Dr. Gustav Bruer

    University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

    • Lecture: “Allgemeine und speziellen Toxikologie“
    • Lecture: “Arzneimittelverordnungslehre“, Topic: “Verschiedene Themen der Arzneimittelvorschriften“
    • Course: “Therapie von Atemwegserkrankungen” as part of the lecture: “Klinische Pathologie und Pharmakologie”

    Dr. Sylvia Escher

    University of Milan

    • Lecture: “Prediction Methods in Toxicology”

    Priv.-Doz. Dr. Jan Fiedler

    Hannover Medical School

    • Graduate school Hannover Biomedical Research School, lecture: “Non-Coding RNA”
    • Master´s program IDOH “Infectious Diseases and One Health”, lecture: “miRNAs in Cardiovascular Disease”
    • Practical training: “Pharmacology and Toxicology”

    Imperial College London

    • Lecture: “miRNAs in Cardiovascular Disease”

    Prof. Dr. Jens Hohlfeld

    Hannover Medical School

    • Practical block course: “Innere Medizin”

    Dr. Stefan Kirsch

    University of Regensburg

    • Module “Molecular Oncology”, lecture in undergraduate and graduate programs: “Molekulare Medizin"

    Prof. Dr. Christoph Klein

    University of Regensburg

    • Current scientific work of the LEX (PR)

    Prof. Dr. Nico Lachmann

    Hannover Medical School

    • Lecture: “WP235 Gen und Zelltherapie Humanmedizin“
    • Ph.D. program “Regenerative Science”, lecture: "Human Hematopoiesis from Pluripotent Stem Cells"
    • M.D.-Ph.D. program "Molecular Medicine", lecture: "Modelling Congenital Diseases with Pluripotent Stem Cells"
    • Master's program "Biomedicine", elective course: "Human Hematopoietic Development"
    • Master´s program IDOH “Infectious Diseases and One Health”, practical training

    Dr. Oliver Licht

    Leuphana University Lüneburg

    • Lecture: “Sustainable Chemistry”, module F3 “Toxicology and Ecotoxicology”,
    • Lecture: “Sustainable Chemistry”, module F10 “Law, International Regulations and Chemicals Management – REACh”

    RWTH Aachen University

    • Toxicology for Environmental Scientists, lecture: “Toxicological Limit Setting"

    Priv.-Doz. Dr. Bernhard Polzer

    University of Regensburg

    • Module “Molecular Oncology“, Bachelor's and Master's programs, practical training and lecture: “Molecular Medicine“

    Prof. Dr. Tobias Pukrop

    Regensburg University Medical Center

    • Lecture: “Grundlagen der Onkologie"

    Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg

    • Lecture: “Chemotherapie“, Master's program “Informatik – Schwerpunkt Medizininformatik“
    • Course: “Analyse und Erfassung medizinischer Prozesse“

    Dirk Schaudien, Ph.D.

    University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover

    • Lecture: “Heimtierkrankheiten“
    • Seminar: “Ausgewählte Themen der speziellen Pathologie der Haustiere Beurteilung aktueller Sektionsfälle“
    • Microscopic Slide Seminar, AFIP
    • Training for the ECVP Exam

    Dr. Kevin Schmidt

    Hannover Medical School

    • Practical training: “Pharmakologie und Toxikologie für Biomediziner/Biochemiker“

    Dr. Stefanie Scheffler

    Leuphana University Lüneburg

    • Lecture: “Sustainable Chemistry”, module F10 “Law, International Regulations and Chemicals Management – Cosmetics”

    Dr. Katharina Schwarz

    Hannover Medical School

    • Lecture: “Einführung in die Partikeltechnologie« im Rahmen des »Graduiertenkollegs RNApp“

    Dr. Katherina Sewald

    Hannover Medical School

    • Lecture and practical training: “Pharmakologie und Toxikologie für Biomediziner/Biochemiker“

    RWTH Aachen University

    • Lecture: “Immunotoxicology”

    Dr. Christian Werno

    University of Regensburg

    • Lecture: Module “Pathology”, Bachelor's and Master's programs “Molekulare Medizin“
    • Lecture and practical training: Module "Onkology”, Bachelor's and Master's programs “Molekulare Medizin“

    Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule Regensburg

    • Study program “Medizininformatik“, seminar: “Wie funktioniert Metastasierung?“

    Prof. Dr. Lena Wiese

    Goethe University Frankfurt a. M.

    • Lecture: “Databases 3”
    • Lecture: “SQL Databases / Programming of Databases"
    • Practical course: “Data Science: Database Management Systems (DBMS)”
    • Seminar: “Logic”
    • Seminar: “Data Management”

    Dr. Ariane Zwintscher

    Leuphana University Lüneburg

    • Lecture: “Sustainable Chemistry”, module F10 “Law, International Regulations and Chemicals Management - Biocides”

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Sustainable networks

Research requires foresight, a change of perspective, and thinking outside the box.

Close collaborations with over 70 Fraunhofer institutes, universities, other research organizations, industry, and numerous partners worldwide enable true innovation and sustainable networks.

Fraunhofer Health

This network combines expertise and technologies from medicine, pharmacy, medical technology, and biotechnology across six institutes, focusing on the areas of data, devices, diagnostics, and drugs.

Translationsallianz

The Translation Alliance in Lower Saxony (TRAIN) combines the expertise and infrastructure of university and non-university research for drug development. Fraunhofer ITEM is a TRAIN partner.

 

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Fraunhofer CIMD

The aim of the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence "Immune-Mediated Diseases" is to translate innovative ideas and target identification into personalized therapies for immune diseases.

Fraunhofer Chemistry Alliance

The alliance of 15 Fraunhofer institutes leverages complementary expertise to support clients in technology development and scaling, thereby creating sustainable and innovative products.

Fraunhofer Nanotechnology Network FNT

This Fraunhofer collaboration enables the implementation of application-oriented research projects in the field of nanotechnology, as well as the safety assessment of nanomaterials.

German Center for Lung Research (DZL)

The DZL is one of the six German Centers for Health Research and is funded by the BMBF. Fraunhofer ITEM is a member of the BREATH research network at the Hannover site.

Tierversuche verstehen

Fraunhofer is involved in the initiative "Understanding Animal Research," an information and education initiative by German scientific organizations.