State supports innovative teaching project

MHH trains medical students in knowledge and technology transfer for the first time and receives 50,000 euros for a new elective subject

Success for teaching at the MHH: the university has been awarded 50,000 euros for an innovative teaching project in a competition organized by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture (MWK). The money from the "Innovation plus" funding program of the state of Lower Saxony will be used to set up a new teaching module at the MHH. The aim is to develop didactic and digital teaching and learning methods for the new elective subject "From Idea to Product - Knowledge and Technology Transfer".

The teaching project introduces methods for developing business ideas, transfer processes and strategies into medical studies for the first time and aims to sharpen students' awareness of the possibilities of transferring research results and ideas for the medical care of patients to the economy and society. "In medicine in particular, it is essential that science and the healthcare sector work hand in hand. Only the transfer of research results into patient care opens the door to new examination and treatment methods that can save lives. I am very pleased that Hannover Medical School also wants to further advance this area in teaching. That is why we are supporting skills-oriented teaching here with 50,000 euros through our Innovation plus program," explains Björn Thümler, Lower Saxony's Minister for Science and Culture. The project was initiated by the Staff Unit for Research - Knowledge - Translation - Transfer (FWT2) at the MHH.

Knowledge and technology transfer becomes part of medical studies

The future doctors will gain an insight into successful examples of translation and acquire the necessary tools to be able to introduce ideas for medical care and therapy into the healthcare system after their studies. "We have already trained researchers and life science students in knowledge and technology transfer and would now like to be one of the first universities in Germany to pass this knowledge on to medical students," explains Teaching Professor Dr. Dr. Thomas Thum, Head of the MHH Institute for Molecular and Translational Therapeutic Strategies and founder of Cardior Pharmaceuticals GmbH.

Together with the university's Staff Unit for Research - Knowledge - Translation - Transfer (FWT2), Professor Thum will contribute his knowledge as an expert in this field. "The earlier we start transferring knowledge, the greater the chance that good ideas will ultimately benefit patients," says Christiane Bock von Wülfingen, Head of FWT2. The new course for students from the 4th year of study will start in summer 2021.

Among other things, the project finances the podcast series "Brining science to life", which aims to inspire young doctors to become entrepreneurs and raise their awareness of knowledge and technology transfer via startups.

For further information, please contact Christiane Bock von Wülfingen, Staff Unit for Research - Knowledge - Translation - Transfer (FWT2), bockvonwuelfingen.christiane@mh-hannover.de, Telephone (0511) 532-7902