Joint workshop of BTU and MHB: Medicine meets engineering

An inter-university workshop jointly organized by the Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) and the Brandenburg Medical School (MHB) presented collaborative projects in the field of medical engineering on 11 September.

Prof. Hendrik Borgmann, professor and director of the urology clinic at the university hospital Brandenburg an der Havel (UKB), gave an opening speech on telemedical training in micro ultrasound technology and the current healthcare situation. He went on to present three new projects for debate on a possible participation of BTU researchers. "Antepuls" is the name of a startup founded by Prof. Ivo Buschmann and Dr. Philipp Hillmeister which aims to give more freedom of movement to people with reduced mobility. Dr. Filip Schröter, scientific coordinator at the university hospital Immanuel Klinikum Bernau Herzzentrum Brandenburg, gave insights into polymeric heart valve research at the MHB. Prof. Barbara Seliger (director, Institute of Translational Immunology) concluded with an introduction to her research on "Personalized cancer therapies”.

MHB president Prof. Hans-Uwe Simon says the workshop was most interesting and stimulating for both sides: “Findings and innovations from engineering will play a key role in the future of medicine, which will be digital and technical to a great extent. This makes an exchange of medical and engineering expertise all the more important. We are pleased to have set out today on that way together with the BTU in order to identify potential areas of cooperation.”

Prof. Michael Hübner, vice president of the BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg in charge of research and transfer, underlines the importance of interdisciplinary exchange with colleagues from the MHB to develop new topics for future research collaboration. Researchers of both institutions have started preliminary discussions on contents of potential cooperation projects for joint application. In this context he names two out of four existing key research areas at the BTU to be followed up on as an option: “Artificial Intelligence & Sensor Technology” and “Health & Life Sciences”.

The exchange is scheduled to continue in the coming semester.