Smart Technologies for Prevention
The brain health area of focus brings together world-class research on hearing, health, and digital technologies at both universities. A defining feature of these locations is the close integration of neuroscience, engineering, artificial intelligence, and health research.
Disciplines
Electrical Engineering
Information Technology
Public Health
Human Medicine
Computer Science
Medical Technology
Psychology
Statistics
From Hearing to Brain Health
At the University of Oldenburg, the Cluster of Excellence “Hearing4all.connects” and the Collaborative Research Centre “Acoustics of Hearing” have established a globally unique center for hearing research, spanning everything from neurobiological foundations to personalized hearing care. In addition, researchers from a research training group are investigating how neuromodulation affects motor and cognitive functions in both healthy and sick brains and are further developing relevant methods to enable patient-centered rehabilitation.
In the research training group HEARAZ, participants from both universities are also researching near-ear sensor technologies that open up new possibilities for health monitoring.
The University of Bremen is contributing its expertise in data-driven health research and AI. Initiatives such as the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health in Bremen, the AI Center for Health Care, and the Lifespan AI research group are developing methods to predict health trajectories over a person’s lifespan and integrate digital technologies into healthcare systems.
Joint structures such as the Care Innovation Center as well as partner institutes such as the OFFIS institute of computer science in Oldenburg, the Oldenburg Hearing Center, the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS in Bremen, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS in Bremen strengthen innovation and transfer in this field of research.
An integrated approach combines risk-based early detection and personalized prevention of noncommunicable diseases with sensor-based tracking. The complementary expertise of the two universities – from data-driven methods to sensor and AI technologies – enables innovative approaches to promoting brain health throughout a person’s entire lifespan.
Spokespersons of the Focal Research Area
Within seven years, the Northwest Alliance aims to be an internationally recognized hub where we collaborate on hearing and brain health, conduct interdisciplinary research, and advance the field using state-of-the-art technologies.
Professor Christiane Thiel, University of Oldenburg
Using innovative AI and sensor technologies, as well as digital public health approaches, we aim to revolutionize the early detection and prevention of health risks – to promote preventive health throughout a person’s entire lifespan.
Professor Marvin Wright, University of Bermen
