Allergy diagnostics

DEVELOPMENT OF IMPROVED METHODS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF ALLERGIES

Type I allergy is the most common form of allergy. It is formed after the first contact with an allergen, whereby an antibody subtype is formed, which leads to allergic reactions upon further contact. Type I allergies of this kind can be diagnosed using two methods. However, both methods can only determine the reaction to an allergen with the sum of all its components, but not to the individual immunoreactive components.

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BrioLens - Innovative diagnostics for the human eye

AN INNOVATIVE BRILLOUIN SPECTROMETER FOR THE OPTICAL IN-VIVO DIAGNOSIS OF THE HUMAN CORNEA AND EYE LENS

A decrease in the elasticity of the eye due to age is a condition that affects large parts of the population. This leads to age-related long-sightedness, which, in some studies, has been regarded as a precursor to cataracts. Such changes in the eye can considerably restrict a person’s quality of life and cost the healthcare sector a lot of money. Inserting intraocular lenses is therefore one of the most frequently performed operations.  more about this project

Bioglas_SC - Bioglass scaffolds for the implantation of cartilage

DEVELOPMENT OF BIOGLASS SCAFFOLDS FOR THE IMPLANTATION OF CARTILAGE

In the last few decades, human life expectancy has risen all around the world. Together with a changed lifestyle, which is chiefly characterized by lack of movement and maladaptive eating habits, this results in damage to and failure of organs in old age. The motor system is particularly affected by this. Arthritis is a widespread and painful illness in which the joints, including the cartilage, are attacked and partially dissolved.  more about this project

ENOM - Embedded, non-obstructive monitoring of voice and speech impediments

EMBEDDED, NON-OBSTRUCTIVE MONITORING OF VOICE AND SPEECH IMPEDIMENTS, TAKING SPECIFIC ACCOUNT OF PRIVACY

Speech is one of the oldest communication mediums. Speech is also something that is exclusive to human beings and that even after around 200,000 years still forms the basis of the digital world we know today. Stuttering is a widely recognized type of speech impediment. Its effect is to limit the fluency of speech and in 90 percent of cases, it commences before the age of six years.  more about this project

GeBiS - Staying healthy on shift

STAYING HEALTHY ON SHIFT. ONLINE SLEEP CONSULTATION FOR PARTICULARLY VULNERABLE TARGET GROUPS

In Germany approximately one third of the population suffers from sleep problems. Among the working population, one in ten now suffers from a serious sleep disorder requiring treatment, known as insomnia. People who suffer from insomnia have an increased risk of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety disorders, as well as of physical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and cardiovascular diseases.  more about this project

Iridotomy - Treating angle-closure glaucoma

IRIDOTOMY WITH ULTRA-SHORT PULSE LASERS TO TREAT ANGLE-CLOSURE GLAUCOMA

Laser treatment is an established technology in eye surgery. Glaucoma, for example, is treated with laser surgery. This eye disease is one of the most frequent causes of blindness. Until now, the operation has been carried out with Nd-YAG lasers, which generate pulse widths of some 10 nanoseconds.  more about this project

Mikroquant - Microorganisms in the microbiota of newborns

MOLECULAR IDENTIFICATION AND QUANTIFICATION OF MICROORGANISMS IN THE MICROBIOTA OF NEWBORNS

The human body is home to billions of bacteria, fungi, and eukaryotes. Together, these microbes are known as the microbiome and the composition of this has a decisive influence on the health in humans. Many of our body’s processes, such as our digestion, involve bacterial action. The microorganisms also support our immune system, however, and stimulate the production of insulin. Pathogenic bacteria, on the other hand, are harmful to our bodies and can lead to severe inflammatory diseases.  more about this project

NeoWatch - Monitoring system for premature babies

CONTACTLESS MONITORING SYSTEM FOR PREMATURE BABIES AT THE NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT

In Germany alone, around 8,000 premature babies weighing under 1500 g are born each year. Until they can maintain their body temperature themselves and have a minimum weight of 1800 g, the children are cared for, monitored, and kept alive at the neonatal intensive care unit. As well as checking the vital functions such as heartbeat, breathing, and body temperature, the supply of nutrients and medicines and the location of infusions must be controlled. In addition to connections to devices with cables, electrodes, and tubes, various catheters and sensors are needed.  more about this project

OMM - E-counseling for the alleviation of tiredness

PRELIMINARY SURVEY TO DEVELOP AN INTERNET-SUPPORTED PROGRAMME FOR THE PREVENTION OF SLEEP PROBLEMS: E-COUNSELING FOR THE ALLEVIATION OF TIREDNESS

Sleep problems are no rarity these days. According to surveys, around one quarter of the German population suffers from the effects of them, with shift workers being particularly affected. The consequences, alongside a reduced capacity for work, are also discernible in private life: Tiredness and depression can lead to a reduced quality of life.  more about this project

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OSTEO-MODEL - An extended continuum model for the numerical analysis of bone remodelling processes

AN EXTENDED CONTINUUM MODEL FOR THE NUMERICAL ANALYSIS OF BONE REMODELLING PROCESSES, TAKING ACCOUNT OF MECHANICAL STIMULI AND ASPECTS OF BONE METABOLISM

Degenerative bone diseases are a widespread phenomenon within the global population. The symptoms, which are partly caused by mechanical load, a lack of nutrients or hormone imbalances, give rise to an increased risk of fracture. Computer models and simulations are currently used in diagnostics and to determine therapeutic approaches.  more about this project

Osteo-Train-Sim - Prevention of osteoporosis-related fractures

DEVELOPMENT AND FINITE ELEMENT SIMULATION OF TARGETED TRAINING METHODS FOR THE PREVENTION OF OSTEOPOROSIS-RELATED FRACTURES BY MECHANICALLY STIMULATED BONE GROWTH

In a steadily ageing society, geriatric disorders are becoming increasingly important. For example, osteoporosis, a geriatric disorder of the bones, is today one of the ten most significant diseases. In patients suffering from osteoporosis, the bone density is reduced, which leads to a reduction in bone strength.  more about this project

Strong in the workplace

DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION OF A PREVENTION PROGRAMME TO AVOID VIOLENCE IN THE WORKPLACE BY IMPLEMENTING A TRAINING MEASURE FOR EMPLOYEES

The International Labour Organization defines violence in the workplace as any action, situation or mode of behaviour that causes a person to be attacked, threatened, severely insulted, injured, or wounded during or as a direct consequence of their work. A number of studies have meanwhile demonstrated that violence in the workplace represents a threat to employees that must be taken seriously.  more about this project

Therapeutic Ultrasound

THERAPY MONITORING WITH LOW-FIELD MAGNETIC RESONANCE AND ULTRASOUND

The treatment of tumours still poses a great challenge for medicine today. In addition to established procedures such as surgery or radiotherapy, therapeutic ultrasound is a completely non-invasive treatment option. In this treatment, which is still relatively unknown to the general public, ultrasound emitted by a transducer outside the body is focused in the body of a patient to approximately the size of a grain of rice.  more about this project