Press Releases

Brandenburg’s Minister of Science, Dr. Manja Schüle, visited the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI-BB at Potsdam Science Park today. The visit focused on research projects, partnerships, and future perspectives of the Fraunhofer Center for Digital Diagnostics ZDD.

Antibodies utilized for detecting target structures can be gently and covalently attached to the surface using the eco-friendly TruContact® coating. This innovative technology not only decreases non-specific binding of proteins but also enhances sensitivity and reduces antibody usage by up to 90 percent. Additionally, the researchers at Fraunhofer IZI-BB prioritized environmental sustainability during development, using non-toxic, plant-based raw materials for the coating.

Science Minister Dr. Manja Schüle visited Fraunhofer IZI-BB, the division for Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology, to learn about the current research of the Fraunhofer Center for Digital Diagnostics ZDD®.

Researchers from the Allen Herbarium in New Zealand, Western Washington University in the USA and the Fraunhofer IZI-BB have described a new member of snow algae and used the occasion to honor the former director of the Fraunhofer IZI-BB (formerly Fraunhofer IBMT), Prof. Dr. G. Fuhr. In the publication of Novis et. al. the rare but cosmopolitan snow alga was named after Prof. Fuhr and is now called: Chloromonas fuhrii .

On Friday, September 29, 2023, Prof. Dr. Antje Bäumner, the new head of institute of the Fraunhofer IZI-BB, was welcomed with a ceremony on behalf of the Fraunhofer Executive Board by Prof. Dr. Axel Müller-Groeling as well as by Minsiter Dr. Manja Schüle and further speakers.

Current developments from the Fraunhofer Cluster of Excellence Advanced Photon Sources CAPS at the LASER world of PHOTONICS. Fraunhofer CAPS promotes the cooperative development and processing of a new generation of laser systems through a cross-institute research structure by increasing the output power of ultrashort pulse lasers (UKP) by an order of magnitude and investigating their potential applications.

Algae could soon be a widely used sustainable resource. At Fraunhofer IZI-BB, we are focusing on snow algae, that show some unique features. We are also investigating the input of microplastics into the environment and plants and helping to develop environmentally compatible alternative mulch films.

About 1.5 million people die of tuberculosis every year, making it the second deadliest infectious disease worldwide after COVID-19. Increasing antibiotic resistance makes it difficult to combat the disease, especially in developing countries. Therefore, eight companies and research institutions joined forces to create a point-of-care detection system, which can be used cost-effectively on-site and does not require complex laboratory steps.

Algae could soon be a widely used sustainable resource. At Fraunhofer IZI-BB, we are focusing on snow algae, that show some unique features. We are also investigating the input of microplastics into the environment and plants and helping to develop environmentally compatible alternative mulch films.