Health research in the State of Brandenburg profits from interdisciplinary collaboration

Cottbus, 7 July 2026

How to accelerate the transfer of innovative research ideas into medical practice? This question was in the focus of a networking meeting for researchers from the Brandenburg Medical School (MHB), the Brandenburg University of Applied Sciences Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research (IAP) and other research partners.

Michael Hübner, BTU vice president for research and transfer, welcomed participants with a positive summary of past activities. Earlier meetings resulted in joint research initiatives and applications for third-party funding. The idea, so Hübner, is to expand interdisciplinary collaboration and exploit new synergies.

MHB president Prof. Hans-Uwe Simon presented the potentials of Medical Engineering for joint research efforts. He mentioned the expansion of dental medicine at the MHB in particular, with numerous options for cooperation at the interface of medicine, materials science and engineering science.

Working groups presented current activities and discussed research issues of mutual interest. Key topics were innovative materials for medical interventions, new approaches in regenerative medicine and perspectives for the transfer of findings into clinical practice.

Subsequent discussions served to identify starting points for future collaboration. Agreements were concluded on networking among experts, verification of joint research projects and preparation of further group applications.

The most innovative ideas often emerge at the interface of different disciplines, so the organizers. The meeting once again highlighted the potential of close collaboration between the institutions involved for health research in Brandenburg and provided a solid basis for future joint research projects.