2012|13 Annual Report Fraunhofer IGB

33 ISRAEL Cooperation on drug delivery with the Hebrew University During initial exploratory discussions between Professor Shai Arkin, vice president of the Hebrew University, and Fraunhofer head of research Professor Ulrich Buller, Life Sciences crystal- lized as a strategic area for a collaborative research venture between the two institutions. The School of Pharmacy is one of the Jerusalem-based university’s strongest areas and is em- bedded in a lively Israeli pharmaceuticals sector characterized by young, innovative companies. During the visit of a Fraun- hofer delegation to Israel in January 2012, including Prof. Ul- rich Buller, representatives of the Fraunhofer ITEM and IAP In- stitutes and a strong contingent from the Fraunhofer IGB, the prerequisites were created for the signing of a strategic coop- eration on the topic of drug discovery and delivery. Drug de- livery is understood as the path and release of a medication to its target location in the patient’s body. This agreement resulted in a call for joint project propos- als, which was taken up by the scientiﬁc coordinators Prof. Gershon Golomb (Hebrew University) and Dr. Steffen Rupp (Fraunhofer IGB). The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is making a to- tal 1.4 million euros available for the funding of the coopera- tion from its internal ICON program for ﬁnancing international activities. Following evaluation by external experts, two pro- jects were authorized for the Fraunhofer IGB and its Hebrew University partners, to the tune of some 900,000 euros – and the active phase of the cooperation commenced in Novem- ber 2012. Here the expertise of the Fraunhofer IGB is asked for, particularly with regard to the experimental validation of active agents using easy-to-handle model systems. A third project will be identiﬁed from additional applications in early 2013. 6 6 Contacts Ina Andrees-Ostovan M.A. European Business Development Phone +49 711 970-3621 ina.andrees@igb.fraunhofer.de Dipl.-Agr.-Biol. Sabine Krieg Business Development Phone +49 711 970-4003 sabine.krieg@igb.fraunhofer.de

2012|13 Annual Report Fraunhofer IGB

Pages