Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) is involved
Until the end of 2024, the Leibniz Health Technologies research network will receive 1.2 million euros in funding from the Leibniz Association. This will enable Leibniz Health Technologies to launch new projects in its second phase of development, bringing together complementary expertise from 14 Leibniz institutes to develop innovative health technologies. With its approval on 18 March 2021, the Senate, as the highest Leibniz body, is following the recommendation of the Senate Committee on Strategic Projects (SAS).
The Leibniz Institute for Plasma Science and Technology (INP) has been a member of the Leibniz Health Technologies research network since its foundation in 2014.
The Leibniz Health Technologies concept is one of three research network concepts approved by the Leibniz Senate that will receive funding from the community over the next four years.
The network aims to research technologies that, for example, improve molecular diagnostics of chronic respiratory diseases and cancer or enable new forms of plasma medicine wound therapy. It also aims to combine new multimodal imaging techniques with machine learning approaches and develop bioactive materials for targeted drug delivery.
A total of six concept outlines were selected by the Presidium in advance and submitted to the SAS as full proposals. The concepts were evaluated by external experts and based on internal strategic discussions and assessments.
Interdisciplinary research as the core brand of the Leibniz Association
"I am delighted that with the Leibniz Health Technologies research network, we are addressing a topic of great scientific and social relevance. Interdisciplinary research into health technologies within a binding cooperative structure will thus become a core brand of the Leibniz Association," explains Professor Matthias Kleiner, President of the Leibniz Association.
The network spokesperson, Professor Jürgen Popp (Leibniz Institute of Photonic Technology), adds: "The overarching goal of Leibniz Health Technologies is to integrate existing and new medical technologies from the member institutes into medical workflows. With the new funding, we will expand the fields of application for our technologies and develop them into mature systems."
In the network's five areas of expertise – "point-of-care technologies," "biomarkers," "bioactive materials," "plasma medicine" and "imaging methods" – new projects will be launched in the coming months, bringing together the strengths of the 14 participating Leibniz institutes and the two spin-offs. The individual research projects will be financed by additional funding and the network members' own resources.
The INP is responsible for the field of expertise "Plasma Medicine" within the research network. "Leibniz Health Technologies offers us an excellent environment for cross-sectional collaboration with other Leibniz institutes and industry partners to conduct interdisciplinary research into plasma medicine devices and therapeutic approaches and bring them into application," says Prof. Dr. Thomas von Woedtke, scientific board member and head of plasma medicine research at the INP in Greifswald.
The projects focus on accelerating the translation of Leibniz technologies. Extensive dialogue with various stakeholders from the healthcare sector and with commercial companies that are driving development through to approved medical products supports the process.
Scientific contact:
Prof. Dr. Thomas von Woedtke
Head of Plasma Medicine Research
Scientific Member of the Executive Board
