INTERNAL UNIVERSITY COOPERATIONS
CROSS-UNIVERSITY COOPERATIONS
SCIENTIFIC FACILITES
Research Cooperations
Working together to create knowledge
The faculty's researchers work on current questions in research initiatives, research centres and within strategic research cooperations. The interdisciplinary, close cooperation in internal and external collaborations ensures high excellence and quality - from theory to practice.
The German Research Foundation, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and the Ministry of Science and Culture of Lower Saxony are important funding institutions for the faculty.
Internal university cooperations
Hearing4all: hearing-related basic research and applications
Hearing for everyone, in every situation and at all times: this is the objective of Hearing4all, the interdisciplinary collaborative project which has now been running for almost seven years. Almost 18 percent of the German population – including more than half of those over 65 – suffer from loss of hearing which requires treatment. The scientists want to critically improve the communication situation of people affected, be it at work, in traffic or at home, by means of optimised, personalised audiological diagnostics and by providing them with personalised hearing devices – ranging from hearing aids to implants.
At the Institute of Inorganic Chemistry researchers are developing materials and methods that facilitate the release of drugs from a cochlea implant which help to improve the impaired biological situation in the inner ear. Its aim is to achieve controlled, localised drug release which can be regulated from the outside, where necessary. A joint project involving the Institutes of Technical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry and Quantum Optics is aiming to use these optogenetic methods to trigger drug release as well.
PhoenixD: Photonics, Optics and Engineering – Innovation Across Disciplines
Disciplines is a cross-faculty initiative of Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Computer Science and Chemistry to redefine the design and manufacture of optical systems. By integrating optical design, optical simulation and modern production methods, PhoenixD aims to develop and manufacture customised and highly functional precision optical systems.
The Faculty of Natural Sciences is involved in the Cluster of Excellence through the research groups of various institutes, including the Institutes of Botany, Inorganic Chemistry as well as Physical Chemistry and Electrochemistry.
Digital education – data-assisted teching and learning
The research initiative Digital Education explores ways to digitally support learning by integrating and further developing modern methods of data analysis. Digital support for (scientific) learning processes and the possibilities of learning analytics and machine learning form the backdrop to this research. The focus is on learning in formal contexts, i.e. school and university contexts, in informal contexts and the corresponding innovation of technical processes.
The combination of subject-didactic expertise in the evaluation and design of learning processes with computer science expertise in the automated and intelligent analysis of data opens up new fields of research with high social relevance.
Cross-university cooperations
BaKlimON research network: bacterial climate resilience and one health
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Leibniz University Hannover, Hannover Medical School and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover combine microbiological expertise
Bacteria are constant, dynamic organisms affecting humans, animals and plants, and dominate aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Yet, their role in climate impact research has received surprisingly little attention. Researchers from Leibniz University Hannover (LUH), Hannover Medical School (MHH) and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo) have joined forces in the BaKlimON initiative to investigate how heat, drought, and flooding affect the adaptation, spread, and pathogenicity of key bacterial species — including pathogens and antibiotic-resistant strains. Bringing together the expertise of all three universities under the One Health framework, BaKlimON fosters interdisciplinary collaboration and supports early-career scientists. The network strengthens Hannover’s research landscape and offers a basis for responding to climate-related health risks.
The coordinator of the initiative is Prof. Dr. Natalia Tschowri, Institute of Microbiology (LUH).
Supported with funding from zukunft.niedersachsen, the joint science funding programme of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation.
SIIRI research network: Material development and coatings for implants from chemical research
Safety-integrated and infection-reactive implants | CRC Transregio 298 SIIRI
Implants are becoming increasingly important in medical care: every year, many people in Germany receive artificial joints, dental implants or hearing implants to improve their quality of life. Despite major successes in implant medicine, infections, loosening and malfunctions remain a challenge – especially in an ageing society with a growing number of individuals wearing implants.
The SIIRI research network brings together over 150 participants from the fields of medicine, dentistry, engineering, natural sciences and social sciences to make implants safer, smarter and more responsive. The aim is to transfer safety strategies from engineering sciences to implant research in order to detect disorders early, prevent infections and improve long-term stability.
The contribution of chemistry to project area B lies in the development of novel, smart materials with reversibly adjustable mechanical properties. These materials enable particularly gentle removal or repositioning of implants. In addition, coatings are being developed that can autonomously detect the presence of bacteria and their biofilms, and respond by releasing active agents in a targeted manner. In the long term, SIIRI aims to enhance patient safety and quality of life through intelligent, responsive implants.
Matrix evolution research network: bio-inspired matrices for tissue modelling
Leibniz University Hannover and Hannover Medical School collaborate on biomaterial research
The researchers in the joint project are working towards an evolution in tissue modelling. The aim is to create materials that realistically replicate the natural extracellular matrix (ECM), opening up new possibilities for regenerative medicine and implant research. The focus is on bio-inspired, hierarchically structured and dynamic biomaterials, which can be specifically engineered from the nano- to the macro-level. The integration of bioresponsive and time-controllable elements is intended to result in more complex and functional tissue models.
This research network is led by female scientists across all sub-projects, demonstrating a consistent commitment to equal opportunities in research. The associated FemMatrix network promotes networking, recognition and career development for women in biomaterials research.
The representative of the research network is Prof. Dr. Cornelia Lee-Thedieck, Institute of Cell Biology and Biophysics (LUH).
Supported with funding from zukunft.niedersachsen, the joint science funding programme of the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture and the Volkswagen Foundation.
