In recent years the treatment of premature infants has expanded to include increasingly immature and smaller children. Many bodily functions of these extremely small children are not yet mature and offer special features that are no longer observed in older children but are physiological for premature babies. In addition, there are conditions that are so unique to preterm infants. The Neonatology Research Group investigates the laws governing these immature bodily functions and the conditions under which certain diseases occur in premature infants. Studies on the etiology and therapy of immature respiratory regulation, as well as on metabolic processes and nutrition, represent a central point of activity. The aim is to detect disorders at an early stage, to improve the treatment of these very small premature infants and thus to increase their chances for healthy survival.