Start of a proof-of-concept initiative

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Fraunhofer ITEM is participating in 19 projects submitted under the proof-of-concept initiative that has been launched by the Helmholtz Association, Deutsche Hochschulmedizin (peak organization of German university hospitals and medical schools) and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft.

This proof-of-concept initiative is a pilot project to promote cross-organizational collaboration in translational health research. The aim is to pool available competencies and infrastructure for the development of innovative methods of disease diagnosis, prevention, and therapy in a common platform open to all scientific institutions. The initiative is intended to lead promising development projects to successful proof of concept in patients. The Helmholtz Association and the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft each have allocated 6 million euros for this purpose. This will enable funding of 4 to 6 innovative development projects that will be selected in a competitive application process. Overall, more than 80 project proposals have been submitted, in 19 of which Fraunhofer ITEM is involved. Fraunhofer ITEM’s contributions are based in particular on its established quality platforms for the development of pharmaceuticals (GLP, GMP, GCP) and medical devices, involving the institute’s competencies in the development and manufacture of investigational medicinal products, non-clinical pharmacology and toxicology, and clinical trials. Fraunhofer ITEM can contribute these competencies in a broad range of therapeutic areas, from infection, inflammation, oncology, respiratory and neurodegenerative diseases to medical implants. It is expected that this pilot phase will evolve into a sustainable element of the funding environment, allowing the initiated projects to be continued.

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