Institute chronicles

Start as Fraunhofer ITA

On May 27, 1981, the Fraunhofer Institute in Hannover started its operations – after only two years of planning and construction. One of the factors that had led to the founding of the institute was the enactment of the Chemicals Act in 1980. The research focus of the institute was on inhalation toxicology, with the lung as primary target organ. The first two institute directors were aerosol physicist Prof. Werner Stöber and pathologist Prof. Ulrich Mohr, head of the Department of Experimental Pathology at the Hannover Medical School at the time.

A large research project on behalf of an automobile manufacturer was already on its way: exhaust emissions were to be investigated. In early summer 1981, more than 40 employees were at work in the new laboratories and offices. “Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Aerosol Research ITA” was the institute’s initial name, indicating already its thematic focuses.

The aim was to elucidate correlations between the presence of airborne pollutants and their toxic effects in human beings. The scientists therefore focused their research in the fields of inhalation toxicology, environmental hygiene, cell biology, testing of chemicals, aerosol research, and analytical chemistry.

Extension of the initial building

The second part of the building was completed. By 2010, another nine building extensions will be made. The institute’s laboratory and office space will then sum up to more than 19,000 square meters.

New Institute Director and two new departments

Prof. Dr. Dr. Uwe Heinrich, professor of toxicology and aerosol research at the Hannover Medical School, took over as Institute Director. Since the institute’s foundation in 1981, Prof. Heinrich had been one of its research fellows, enriching the institute with his broad knowledge in inhalation toxicology and experimental oncology.

In addition, the departments of Molecular Toxicology/Molecular Medicine and Clinical Research were set up.

Pharmaco- and Toxicogenomics

The Division of Pharmaco- and Toxicogenomics was set up, including research on molecular diagnostic and therapeutic approaches. This new research area received funding from the federal state of Lower Saxony from 2000 on.

Department of Clinical Airway Research

In the late 1990s, the Department of Clinical Airway Research was established and has meanwhile gained high international reputation. Its focus is on airway diseases such as asthma, COPD, allergic rhinitis, and interstitial lung diseases.

"Fraunhofer Allergen Challenge Camber"

The pollen exposure chamber, later named “Fraunhofer Allergen Challenge Chamber” (ACC), proved its worth. The first clinical trial was successfully completed. Today, Fraunhofer ITEM is equipped with three special challenge chambers where pollen and other allergens can be dispersed in the air under controlled conditions.

First workshop “Models of Lung Disease”

The international workshop “Models of Lung Disease” is held for the first time, then under the name “Animal Models of Asthma”. To date, this event brings together experts from academia and industry from all over the world once a year to discuss new pharmaceutical developments and recent findings in experimental lung research.

ITA became ITEM, the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine

By the turn of the millennium, the Fraunhofer institute in Hannover had considerably expanded its scope of services. The departments of Clinical Airway Research and of Molecular Medicine, with research in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, were increasingly at the focus.

The past competencies though continued to be important, aerosol technology in particular, as this know-how is also required in the clinical unit with its allergen challenge chambers. In order that the expansion of competencies be clearly perceived also in the public, the institute changed its name. “Fraunhofer Institute of Toxicology and Aerosol Research ITA” thus became “Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM”.

“Pharmaceutical Biotechnology” complementing the institute’s competencies

The year 2008 marked the institute’s start at a second location – today’s Science Campus Braunschweig-Süd: In the Braunschweig-based Division of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Fraunhofer ITEM scientists have since developed manufacturing processes for biopharmaceutical agents, such as proteins and viruses, to the point of manufacturing of investigational medicinal products in the form of infusion solutions or in vials or ampoules – in compliance with GMP guidelines.

Start of “Personalized Tumor Therapy”

In Regensburg, the Project Group for Personalized Tumor Therapy was established, headed by Prof. Christoph Klein, who is also holding the Chair of Experimental Medicine and Therapy Research at the University of Regensburg. The focus of this division has since been on the development of diagnostic tests and innovative models to enable detection of disseminated cancer cells early in the disease and prediction of the response to therapy of metastatic progenitor cells. 

Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)

Fraunhofer ITEM became a member of the German Center for Lung Research, one of six national centers for health research initiated by the German government in 2010 and funded under its new health research program. The primary goal of these centers is the translation of research results into successful therapies.

CRC Hannover: Opening of a unique study center for patient-oriented translational medicine

The Clinical Research Center Hannover (CRC Hannover) was opened – the only medical research center for early-phase clinical trials of its kind in Germany, operated by Fraunhofer ITEM in cooperation with the Hanover Medical School and the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research. The aim was to allow the results of fundamental research to be even more efficiently translated into novel biomedical diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventive methods. Hallmarks of the CRC Hannover are in particular its cutting-edge equipment and technology.

Prof. Dr. Norbert Krug took over as Director of Fraunhofer ITEM

After 21 years of successful management, Professor Uwe Heinrich ceded his position as Fraunhofer ITEM Executive Director to Professor Norbert Krug on January 1, 2017. Prof. Krug is professor of immunology, allergology and clinical inhalation research and had been medical director and co-director of Fraunhofer ITEM already since 2008.

“Translational Biomedical Engineering” became a division of Fraunhofer ITEM

The division of Translational Biomedical Engineering assists clients in the development of medical devices and brings them from the lab into phase I of clinical development in compliance with the European Medical Device Regulation.

New High-Performance Center

In spring 2017, the High-Performance Center Translational Biomedical Engineering was inaugurated. From this, the High-Performance Center Medical and Pharmaceutical Technology was created in 2021.

Personalized Tumor Therapy: from project group to division

After its successful evaluation, the Project Group for Personalized Tumor Therapy in Regensburg became a division of Fraunhofer ITEM. The project group had been founded in December 2010 as a research collaboration between the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft, the Bavarian state government, and the University of Regensburg.

New Project Group for Bioinformatics

The Project Group for Bioinformatics was set up under the “Fraunhofer Attract” research grant. The aim was to improve the analysis of data collected in health research by using novel intelligent methods and to provide special techniques that enable efficient and validated analyses.

Fraunhofer vs. Corona

As an institute with decades of experience in infection and airway research, drug development,  biomedical engineering, and in the field of chemical risk assessment, Fraunhofer ITEM has made an important contribution to scientific progress in the fight against the new coronavirus.