UKE joins PIER PLUS: Hamburg's research is becoming more networked!

UKE joins PIER PLUS: Hamburg's research is becoming more networked!

Something is happening in Hamburg: The PIER PLUS research network, which has been working tirelessly to network universities and research institutions since it was founded in 2019, has gained a new member in the form of the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). This not only increases the number of members, which now stands at 23, but also the opportunities for groundbreaking research projects. [uni-hamburg] reports that the UKE is actively involved in six research profiles and four fields of action within the network, with a focus on health and infection.

At a time when interdisciplinary approaches in science are becoming increasingly important, collaboration between different disciplines is a key to success. According to [drfranke], the combination of a wide variety of expertise enables complex issues to be solved. The UKE contributes valuable experience, especially in the “PIER Health and Infection” profile, which deals with infectious diseases, their development, prevention and treatment.

Strengthening cooperation

The importance of interdisciplinary collaboration is also emphasized by Prof. Dr. Hauke ​​Heekeren, President of the University of Hamburg. He sees this as a central component for the innovative strength of Hamburg as a science location. “Creating a collaborative and innovative environment is our long-term vision,” he explains, emphasizing that only through close networking can the challenges of the future be mastered.

And also Prof. Dr. Christian Gerloff, Medical Director of the UKE, sees participation in PIER PLUS as a big step: “We not only support this, but are also pleased about this valuable door opening.” This commitment shows how important it is for different research centers to work together to exploit synergies and develop innovative solutions. With a wide range of research fields, including particle and astroparticle physics as well as nanoscience, PIER has a duty not only in the field of health but also in other scientific disciplines.

The vision behind PIER

What exactly is the PIER partnership? This strategic cooperation between DESY and the University of Hamburg is called “Partnership for Innovation, Education and Research”. The aim is to promote an innovation-friendly culture on the Hamburg Bahrenfeld science campus, which not only benefits the members but also the entire region. [pier-hamburg] summarizes that the governance of the project is organized by various committees to cover strategic, operational and training aspects.

The UKE is not only active in research, but also participates in the training of future scientists. PIER promotes the high-quality training of young scientists and thus contributes to ensuring future innovations in science. As part of PIER's successful history, PIER PLUS is seen as an even larger network in the Hamburg metropolitan area.

Together with various Hamburg universities and non-university institutions, interdisciplinary collaboration is not only intensified, but is also seen as a prerequisite for solving major social challenges. Ultimately, creative exchange between disciplines is crucial to developing new ideas and innovative approaches. This supply of new impulses is necessary to meet the increasing demands of the modern world.

A further look outside the box shows that such interdisciplinary approaches also played a central role in large-scale international projects such as the Human Genome Project or the fight against the Ebola epidemic. This is precisely where it becomes clear how important it is to combine knowledge and methods from different areas - a challenge that will need to be mastered even more in the future. There is a lot of scope for interdisciplinary research and the future looks promising.