About BREATH

BIOMEDICAL RESEARCH IN ENDSTAGE AND OBSTRUCTIVE LUNG DISEASE HANNOVER

 

Lung diseases are, not only in Germany but throughout the world, one of the most frequent causes of death and disease and constitute an immense and growing burden on the health systems.

For most of the chronic lung diseases there are currently hardly any effective therapeutic approaches. The areas of research focus in Hannover lie in the endstage and obstructive lung diseases. Using state-of-the-art technology, BREATH characterizes patients with obstructive lung diseases, in order to establish therapeutic approaches and prevention strategies and personalized medicine for the patient.

The BREATH research network unites in a unique way internationally recognized expertise in translational pulmonary medicine. Well established animal model systems as well as clinical studies, based on large patient cohorts and carried out to the highest standards, are employed.

Site Management

The Site Director, and at the same time Medical Director of the Center of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Department of Pediatric Pneumology, Allergology and Neonatology at Hanover Medical School, is Prof. Dr. Gesine Hansen. Together with Prof. Dr. Marius Hoeper, Prof. Dr. Arjang Ruhparwar and Prof. Dr. Norbert Krug, she makes up the Management Board of BREATH.

Professor Gesine Hansen is also Member of the Board of Directors of the German Center for Lung Research.

She took over this position in summer 2024 after the sudden death of Professor Dr. Tobias Welte.

        Management

        Under the leadership of Dr. Annegret Zurawski, the BREATH Team coordinates the research network BREATH and the Hannover site of the DZL. It is their responsibility to create the best possible conditions for optimum networking and cooperation among the researchers.

        BREATH Office

        Managment
        Dr. Annegret Zurawski
        +49 (0) 511 532 – 5192
        Zurawski.Annegret@mh-hannover.de

         

        Project Coodinator & Financial Administration
        Dr. Ewa Missol-Kolka
        +49 (0) 511 532 – 3694
        Missol-Kolka.Ewa@mh-hannover.de

        Assistent to the Managing Director
        Inga Kwapniewska
        +49 (0) 511 532 – 5193
        Kwapniewska.Inga@mh-hannover.de 

         

        Communication & Public Relations
        Anne Barth
        +49 (0) 511 532 – 5194
        Barth.Anne@mh-hannover.de

        On March 10, 2024, Professor Dr. Tobias Welte passed away after a brief but severe illness. A year has passed since then, and we still keenly feel the immeasurable void his passing has left in our community.

        We are deeply grateful for Tobias Welte—for his humanity, as well as for the tireless energy and vision with which he built his life's work. His unwavering dedication, profound wisdom, and kindness touched countless lives.

        His legacy will remain in our hearts and in the work we continue in his honor.