Research
Within the BREATH research network, scientists from medicine and the natural sciences work together to investigate lung diseases.
Our Goal
At BREATH, we investigate disease-relevant mechanisms from the molecular level through to clinical application, covering a broad spectrum of acute, chronic, obstructive and advanced lung diseases, as well as regenerative processes.
Our research aims to systematically translate new findings from the laboratory into medical practice, while also bringing clinical questions back into research. In doing so, we seek to sustainably improve prevention, diagnostics and therapy for lung diseases.
Publications
BREATH researchers regularly publish their findings in leading international peer-reviewed journals. To make this scientific work transparent and easily accessible, we have compiled it in a central publications overview. A convenient search and filter function allows targeted access by topic, author, or year.
All publications at DZLDisease Areas
Within the German Center for Lung Research, researchers pool their expertise across eight central disease areas. This thematic structure creates common points of reference, fosters collaboration across sites, and forms the basis for targeted, coordinated lung research, which is presented in more detail below.
Platforms
In addition to its disease areas, the DZL operates cross-disease platforms. These platforms provide central resources, technologies and expertise, enabling research approaches to be linked across sites and indications and further developed efficiently.
The biobanking platform forms a central foundation of research at DZL. At BREATH the Hannover Unified Biobank (HUB) coordinates the quality-assured collection, processing, and storage of biomaterials from clinical studies and research projects. Through standardized procedures and cross-site access, it enables comparable analyses, supports the identification of biomarkers, and provides the basis for systematically investigating disease mechanisms and translating them into clinically relevant questions.
Hannover Unified Biobank research team
Dr. rer. nat. Svenja Gaedcke
Deputy Head of the Bioinformatics Platform
The bioinformatics platform provides specialized methods and expertise for the analysis of complex biological and clinical datasets. It supports the evaluation of omics data as well as the integration of diverse data sources. Through standardized analysis pipelines and cross-site collaboration, it ensures comparable results and helps to uncover molecular relationships and disease-relevant patterns in large datasets.
The data management platform ensures the structured, secure, and data protection–compliant collection of research data at BREATH. It establishes shared standards and workflows to integrate heterogeneous data from different projects and make them sustainably usable. In doing so, it improves data quality, facilitates cross-site access, and provides the foundation for reproducible analyses and efficient scientific collaboration.
Dr. Jan Fuge
Head of BREATH Platform
Data Management and Statistics
In the Lung Imaging Platform, clinical imaging data from CT and MRI are integrated with molecular and electron microscopy techniques. The aim is to develop novel diagnostic parameters and identify early signs of lung disease using AI-based analysis methods. At the same time, normal lung ageing is being investigated to establish reliable reference values. Automated analysis methods are intended to support the earlier and more precise diagnosis of lung diseases in the future.
Research team of Platform Imaging – Microscopy
Research team of the platform Imaging – Radiology (from left to right: Claas Warnecke, Dr. Milan Speth, PD Dr. Julian Glandorf, Prof. Dr. Hoen-oh Shin, Prof. Dr. Frank Wacker, PD Dr. Till F. Kaireit, Dr. Agilo Kern, Prof. Dr. Sabine Dettmer, Marius Klein, Marcel Eicke, Prof. Dr. Diane Renz, Jamie Temple, Robin Müller, Kirsten Schmidt)
The pathology platform at BREATH integrates morphological, molecular, and digital analyses of lung tissue from experimental models and clinical samples. It enables detailed characterization of disease-relevant changes at the cellular and subcellular level and establishes links between structural findings, molecular mechanisms, and clinical data. In doing so, the platform makes a key contribution to understanding disease processes and to validating translational research approaches.
Dr. Lavinia Neubert
Head of the Lung Research Group at the Institute of Pathology and PI in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL, at site BREATH Hannover)
PD Dr. Jan-Christopher Kamp
Head of the Lung Research Group at the Institute of Pathology and PI in the German Center for Lung Research (DZL, at site BREATH Hannover)
Univ.-Prof. Dr. Danny D. Jonigk, FRCPath
Founder of the Lung Research Group at the Institute of Pathology and PI at the German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
Here you can find the members of the BREATH Faculty, listed alphabetically according to the order of the platforms mentioned above:
BIOBANK
Fuge, Jan, PD Dr.
Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology – MHH
Illig, Thomas Prof. Dr.
Hannover Unified Biobank – MHH
Klopp Norman, Dr.
Hannover Unified Biobank – MHH
IMAGING
Dettmer, Sabine PD Dr.
Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology – MHH
Knudsen, Lars Prof. Dr.
Institute for Functional and Applied Anatomy – MHH
Labode, Jonas Dr.
Institute for Functional and Applied Anatomy – MHH
Meyer, Bernhard Prof. Dr.
Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology – MHH
Mühlfeld, Christian Prof. Dr.
Institute for Functional and Applied Anatomy – MHH
Renz, Diane Prof. Dr.
Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology – MHH
Schipke, Julia PD Dr.
Institute for Functional and Applied Anatomy – MHH
Schmiedl, Andreas Prof. Dr.
Institute for Functional and Applied Anatomy – MHH
Shin, Hoen-oh Prof. Dr.
Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology – MHH
Vogel-Claussen, Jens Prof. Dr.
Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology – MHH and Charitè Berlin
Wacker, Frank Prof. Dr.
Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology – MHH
KI / BIOINFORMATIK / DATENMANAGEMENT / STATISTIK
Fuge, Jan PD Dr.
Data Management and Statistics, Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology – MHH
Gaedcke, Svenja Dr.
Bioinformatics, Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology – MHH
Li, Yang Prof. Dr.
CiiM – HZI Braunschweig – MHH
Marschollek, Michael Prof. Dr. Med.
Peter L. Reichertz Institute of Medical Informatics – MHH
Schupp, Jonas C. Prof. Dr.
Department of Pneumology and Infectious Disease – MHH
PATHOLOGIE
Jonigk, Danny Prof. Dr.
Institute of Pathology – MHH and RWTH Aachen
Kamp, Jan-Christopher PD Dr.
Department of Pneumology and Infectious Disease – MHH
Neubert, Lavinia, PD Dr.
Institute of Pathology – MHH
MANAGEMENT
Zurawski, Annegret Dr.
BREATH Business Office – MHH
Clinical studies
Clinical studies are a key component in safely translating new research findings into medical care. Within the BREATH research network, innovative diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are evaluated under controlled conditions and with high scientific standards. On this page, you will find an overview of the clinical studies currently being conducted at BREATH.
All studies at DZLEradicate
Inhaled Levofloxacin in adult bronchiectasis patients with early asymptomatic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection
Coordinating Investigator: Prof. Dr. J. Behr
Cooperating Partners: BREATH, CPC, UGMLC
HANSE-Study
The HANSE study is designed as a pilot study to evaluate a comprehensive lung cancer screening program at certified lung cancer centers.
Coorditating Investigator: Prof. Dr. Jens Vogel-Claussen
Cooperating Partners: BREATH, ARCN
HELP-PCD
Creating evidence for the use of hypertonic saline in people with primary ciliary dyskinesia
Coordinating Investigators: Prof. Dr. Felix Ringshausen, Dr. Isabell Pink
Cooperating Partners: BREATH, CAPNETZ-STIFTUNG, Charitè, CPC
MOVEINTO-ARDS
Molecular phenotyping after individualized intervention upon acute respiratory distress syndrome
Coordinating Investigator: PD Dr. Benjamin Seeliger
Cooperating Partners: BREATH, Charité, UGMLC, KSS Marburg
TEFIBOS (Anti-TSLP-mab)
in progressive pulmonary fibrosis interstitial lung disease with evidence of eosinophilia
Coordinating Investigator: PD Dr. Benjamin Seeliger
Cooperating Partners: BREATH, KKS Marburg
Health Services Research
Demographic change, social changes and a changing entitlement mentality represent three of the future challenges to the German health system.
Health services research seeks to achieve an improvement in the health services, resulting in the best possible outcome for patients. This field of research thus acts as an interface between clinical, socioeconomic and economic research.
The DZL has also adopted this topic. At BREATH, in cooperation with other DZL partners, research to improve patient health care is predominantly carried out in the disease areas of end-stage lung disease (ELD) and COPD.
