On December 2 and 3, 2024, the U Bremen Research Alliance, in cooperation with JUST ADD AI, the Transfer Center for Artificial Intelligence BREMEN.AI and the Integrated Health Campus Bremen (IGB), is organizing the "Bremen Symposium AI in Health" for the third time. Here, the latest developments and innovative approaches in the field of artificial intelligence for healthcare will be presented and the future of healthcare and the transformative contribution of digital technologies, especially AI, will be discussed. This event brings together experts from science, politics, business and practice for a joint dialog and for the transfer of knowledge to society.
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Hindricks
Acting Clinic Director
Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin
02.12.2024
The first day of the "Bremen Symposium AI in Health" is dedicated in particular to the regional and supra-regional networking of selected initiatives coordinated from Bremen.
Venues
Bremische Bürgerschaft, Am Markt 20, 28195 Bremen
Haus der Wissenschaft, Sandstraße 4/5, 28195 Bremen
08:30-09:00 Registration and coffee, Bremische Bürgerschaft
09:00-10:00 Welcome, Bremische Bürgerschaft
10:00 -11:30 Parallel Sessions, Bremische Bürgerschaft and Haus der Wissenschaft
The following two sessions will take place at the same time. You can either take part in Session 1 in the Bremische Bürgerschaft or Session 2 in the Haus der Wissenschaft.
Session 1: Digital Public Health (English)
Venue: Bremische Bürgerschaft
Chair: Prof. Dr. med. Hajo Zeeb
Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology BIPS
This session addresses the impact of the digital divide on disease prevention and health promotion. The speaker from the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen (LSC DiPH), Prof. Dr. Hajo Zeeb, will guide the audience through brief presentations by scientists from the Early Career Researcher Academy (ECRA) and Principal Investigators (PIs) of the LSC DiPH.
Another key focus will be on how digital disinformation and misinformation in the health sector, particularly in relation to generative AI, can be countered. Additionally, we will explore the role AI can and should play in prevention, along with the potential challenges that may arise.
For over four years, the LSC DiPH has brought together researchers from health sciences, computer science, statistics, law, communication studies, ethnology, and philosophy to study how digitalization affects health.
Venue: Bremer Bürgerschaft
More information about Prof. Dr. med. Hajo Zeeb
Prof. Dr. Hajo Zeeb has headed the Department of Prevention and Evaluation at the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology BIPS since January 2010 and is co-spokesperson for the University of Bremen's research focus on health sciences. As spokesperson of the Board of Directors, he has headed the Leibniz ScienceCampus Digital Public Health Bremen since 2019. Prof. Zeeb is particularly interested in evidence-based public health. His research focuses on evidence-based prevention and evaluation of chronic diseases as well as epidemiological research on the health of migrants.
Session 2: Artificial colleagues - Safe and meaningful automation with LLMs in the healthcare sector (German)
Venue: Haus der Wissenschaft
Chair: Beeke Thom and Johann Gerberding
JUST ADD AI GmbH and lector.ai GmbH
In this session, we explore the diverse applications of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Vision Language Models (VLMs) in the healthcare sector. Documentation and administrative tasks often consume valuable time that could be better spent elsewhere. Thanks to the latest AI developments in LLMs and VLMs, entirely new possibilities are emerging for further automation, enabling documentation processes to be streamlined and routine tasks to be delegated. This not only increases productivity but also enhances the quality of medical care. Get an overview of current projects in the healthcare sector and learn how LLMs and VLMs are transforming medical practice. LLMs already allow for the automated creation of patient history reports, correction of medical letters, generation of personalized email responses, and retrieval of medical knowledge through chat. A key focus is on reducing bureaucratic workload, allowing professionals to refocus on their primary and essential duties—caring for and attending to patients. We will showcase many exciting, practical demos from various projects.
Venue: Haus der Wissenschaft
More information about Beeke Thom
Beeke Thom is a technical project manager at JUST ADD AI GmbH. In her role, she combines technical expertise with management responsibilities, taking on a wide range of tasks. She develops prototypes and acts as a liaison between various teams and clients. Her focus is on managing LLM projects in the healthcare sector. Through her studies in medical technology and computer science, she has acquired an ideal combination of specialized knowledge for this work.
More information about Johann Gerberding (lector.ai GmbH)
Johann Gerberding has been working as an AI Engineer at lector.ai GmbH since 2023, collaborating with clients in the healthcare sector. Previously, he was responsible for machine learning engineering for computer vision applications in the agricultural field and gained extensive experience in the use of AI in Very Large Business Applications as a research associate in business informatics at the University of Oldenburg.
11:30-12:00 Networking
12:00-12:45 AI Center for Health Care (AICHC) of the U Bremen Research Alliance, Bremische Bürgerschaft
Presentation of the AI Center for Health Care (AICHC) of the U Bremen Research Alliance and Flashlight Talks
Presentation of the AI Center for Health Care (AICHC) (English)
Venue: Bremische Bürgerschaft
Prof. Dr.-Ing. habil. Rainer Fechte-Heinen
Deputy Chairperson of the U Bremen Research Alliance & Chair of the Board of Directors at the Leibniz-IWT
Bremen is an important center for research and teaching in northern Germany, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence (AI) and health sciences. Drivers of this development include the University of Bremen with its scientific focus on Minds, Media, Machines and Health Sciences and numerous renowned non-university research institutions funded by the federal and state governments in the U Bremen Research Alliance, such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS and the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology - BIPS.
At the heart of the latest developments in Bremen is the "AI Center for Health Care", which has been state-funded since 2021 and is currently home to nine projects at the intersection of artificial intelligence and health research and is always run jointly by at least two members of the U Bremen Research Alliance. The establishment of the AI Center for Health Care serves to network the member institutions on the topic of AI in health and, in particular, to support doctoral students who are involved in interdisciplinary projects that connect the institutes.
The underlying funds are provided by the state of Bremen and awarded via the U Bremen Research Alliance.
Venue: Bremer Bürgerschaft
Flashlight Talks (English)
Venue: Bremische Bürgerschaft
Doctoral students of the AI Center for Health Care
Researchers AI Surgery Tracking
The AI Center for Health Care project AI Surgery Tracking aims to help improve surgical care through robust and user-friendly support systems from the field of AI.
Participating institutions:
Fraunhofer MEVIS, Universität Bremen
Researchers IDEAL
The Intelligent Digital Guideline Editor project focuses on the development of a methodology to simplify the planning of efficient clinical studies using causal inference and adaptive statistical procedures and to be able to quickly integrate their results into existing guidelines using a digital guideline editor.
Participating institutions:
Fraunhofer MEVIS, Universität Bremen, Leibniz BIPS
Researchers KimBi
The AI Center for Health Care project On the way to AI-supported intelligent magnetic resonance imaging aims to develop an application-oriented language for the development of imaging techniques in magnetic resonance imaging that enables the support of efficient machine learning processes and thus automatically selects the best possible imaging.
Participating institutions:
Universität Bremen, Fraunhofer MEVIS, DFKI
Researchers NAKO+ILSE
The aim of the AI Center for Health Care project NAKO+ILSE is to combine multimodal data from various studies in order to improve the prediction of the biological, immunological and cognitive age of individuals and to support the early detection of dementia.
Particiating institutions:
Universität Bremen, Fraunhofer MEVIS, Leibniz BIPS, Universität Heidelberg (beratend)
Researchers NAKO-MNA
The NAKO-MNA project aims at the AI-based development of a multimodal implicit data model based on combined image data and complex tabular data from the NAKO health study. One application objective is the improved ability to sensitively detect deviations from the norm and previously undetected incidental findings.
Participating institutions:
Leibniz BIPS, Fraunhofer MEVIS
Researchers PORTAL
The PORTAL project is researching AI-based optimization strategies for the laser additive manufacturing of endoprostheses. A forward model is to be developed in order to make statements about properties such as fatigue strength of the manufactured component in accordance with the intended use. A further aim is to develop a backward model in order to parameterize the manufacturing process precisely to the intended use.
Participating institutions:
Leibniz IWT, Universität Bremen
Researchers ENABLE
The aim of the AI Center for Health Care project ENABLE is to develop an antibacterial alloy that will help to reduce implant-associated infections.
Participating institutions:
Leibniz IWT, Universität Bremen
Researchers KiKi
The AI Center for Health Care project KIKI focuses on the advantageous structures of diatoms for the development of medical endoprostheses.
Participating institutions:
AWI, Leibniz IWT
Researchers MetaN
The aim of the AI Center for Health Care project MetaN is to improve the efficiency of MR imaging by using flexible metamaterials that are dynamically optimized using artificial intelligence methods.
Participating institutions:
Universität Bremen, Fraunhofer IFAM
12:45-13:30 Poster Session AI Center for Health Care | Networking | Bremische Bürgerschaft
13:30-15:00 Parallel Sessions, Bremische Bürgerschaft und Haus der Wissenschaft
The following two sessions will take place at the same time. You can either take part in Session 3 in the Bremische Bürgerschaft or Session 4 in the Haus der Wissenschaft.
Session 3: Everyday Activity in Science and Engineering (English)
Venue: Bremische Bürgerschaft
Chair: Prof. Dr. h.c. Michael Beetz
Head of Institute Artificial Intelligence (IAI), University of Bremen
Session 4: TBD
Venue: Haus der Wissenschaft
Chair: Prof. Dr. Matthias Zündel
Head of Integrated Health Campus Bremen
15:00-15:30 Networking
15:30-17:00 Parallel Sessions, Bremische Bürgerschaft und Haus der Wissenschaft
The following two sessions will take place at the same time. You can either take part in Session 5 at the Bremische Bürgerschaft or Session 6 in the Haus der Wissenschaft.
Session 5: Lifespan AI (English)
Venue: Bremische Bürgerschaft
Chair: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Tanja Schultz and Prof. Dr. Marvin Wright
University of Bremen und University of Bremen/Leibniz-BIPS
Session 6: Challenges in Admissions (German)
Venue: Haus der Wissenschaft
Chair: Inis Ehrlich
Transfer Center for Artificial Intelligence BREMEN.AI
17:15-18:00 Keynote, Bremische Bürgerschaft
"Myth, hope, and reality: AI in the clinic today and tomorrow“ (German)
Prof. Dr. med. Ralf Kuhlen
Chief Medical Officer, Fresenius Group
18:00 Final words
18:15 End of the event
03.12.2024
The second day of the "Bremen Symposium on AI in Health" looks toward the future and highlights the current state of research for sustainable and resilient health. It concludes in the afternoon with a high-profile session and panel discussion on the topic "AI for Sustainable Health and Resilience?" in the ceremonial hall of the Bremische Bürgerschaft.
08:30-09:00 Registration and coffee, Bremische Bürgerschaft
09:00-09:45 Welcome, Bremische Bürgerschaft
09:45-10:30 Health & resilience, Bremische Bürgerschaft
Chair: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Horst Hahn, Institute Director Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS
"How digital cardiac medicine can save lives and cut costs"
Prof. Dr. Gerhard Hindricks
Acting Clinic Director, Clinic for Cardiology, Angiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Charité Berlin
10:30-10:45 Networking
10:45 -12:15 Parallel Sessions, Bremische Bürgerschaft
The following two sessions will take place at the same time at Bremische Bürgerschaft. You can either take part in Session 1 or Session 2.
Session 1: Robotic & Rehabilitation (German)
Venue: Bremische Bürgerschaft
Chair: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Frank Kirchner
Director German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence (DFKI)
Session 2: Small Data (English)
Venue: Bremische Bürgerschaft
Chair: Dr. Felix Putze
Group leader Cognitive Systems Lab, University of Bremen
The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the new Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1597 "Small Data" with over 11 million euros until June 2027. If continuation applications are successful, the new CRC could run for a total of twelve years. The spokesperson is Prof. Dr. Harald Binder, Professor of Medical Biometry and Statistics at the Medical Faculty of the University of Freiburg and the Medical Centre.
Artificial intelligence (AI) techniques typically require large data sets, also called "big data". Biomedical data sets, on the other hand, often only comprise a relatively small number of observations. These "small data" applications may seem more manageable at first glance, but they make it much more difficult to use data-hungry artificial intelligence approaches. The new Collaborative Research Centre is developing methods for using artificial intelligence techniques and modelling to discover complex patterns even in such relatively small data sets. This requires a highly interdisciplinary approach that combines expertise from computer science, mathematics, statistics, medicine and systems modelling - and establishes a shared language among researchers from the different disciplines.
The new Collaborative Research Centre will start in October 2023. 29 scientists from all participating disciplines will lead its diverse sub-projects over the next four years. The SMART Research Training Group, which offers positions for 31 doctoral students, is also part of the CRC. "We will make AI techniques that are already very successful for big data usable for much more challenging small data applications in medicine," says spokesperson Harald Binder.
Source: https://news.vm.uni-freiburg.de/en/newsarchive/the-new-collaborative-research-centre-small-data
12:15-12:45 Networking
12:45 -14:15 Plenary Session: Machine Learning, Bremische Bürgerschaft
Chair: Prof. Dr. Marvin N. Wright, Professor of Machine Learning in Statistics, University of Bremen
"Reliable Artificial Intelligence"
Prof. Dr. Gitta Kutyniok
Professor for mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
More information about Prof. Dr. Gitta Kutyniok
Prof. Dr. Gitta Kutyniok is a professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, where she holds the Chair of Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, conducting research on reliable and energy-efficient AI, with applications in medicine, robotics, and telecommunications. She currently leads the Bavarian side of the project 'Next Generation AI Computing (GAIn),' a collaboration between the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture, and Tourism. She is also a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the European Academy of Sciences, and serves as the LMU Director of the Konrad Zuse School of Excellence in Reliable AI, as well as the spokesperson for the AI-HUB@LMU. Additionally, she recently co-founded the start-up Ecologic Computing with colleagues.
14:15-14:45 Networking
14:45-15:45 Session: Health & resilience, Bremische Bürgerschaft
Chair: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Horst Hahn, Institute Director Fraunhofer Institute for Digital Medicine MEVIS
"Artificial intelligence in public health" (German)
Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade
President Robert Koch Institute
"Artificial intelligence (AI) not only has the potential to analyze individual health data in entirely new ways, thus improving the direct medical care and treatment of individual patients. No, the application of AI also holds great promise for identifying previously invisible patterns and connections in large datasets at the population level, thereby creating new knowledge that can be strategically used for public health policy decisions. I am convinced that in the future, the combination of artificial intelligence and public health will be a key factor in ensuring the health of the population."
Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade
Präsident Robert Koch-Institut
Venue: Bremische Bürgerschaft
More information about Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade
Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade is a specialist in medical microbiology and infection epidemiology, has completed his habilitation in medical microbiology and virology, and serves as an honorary professor at Charité. After professional positions at the universities of Göttingen and Aachen, as well as working as a consultant and division head at the Federal Ministry of Health, Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade joined the Robert Koch Institute in 2010. There, he served as head of department and, since 2011, as vice president before being appointed president of the Robert Koch Institute in 2023.
16:15-17:15 Panel discussion, Bremische Bürgerschaft
Moderated by Felix Krömer, Radio Bremen
"Artificial Intelligence for sustainable health and resilience?"
with
Prof. Dr. med. Ralf Kuhlen
Prof. Dr. med. Ralf Kuhlen
Chief Medical Officer, Fresenius Group
Prof. Gitta Kutyniok
Prof. Dr. Gitta Kutyniok is a professor at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, where she holds the Chair of Mathematical Foundations of Artificial Intelligence, conducting research on reliable and energy-efficient AI, with applications in medicine, robotics, and telecommunications. She currently leads the Bavarian side of the project 'Next Generation AI Computing (GAIn),' a collaboration between the Bavarian State Ministry of Science and the Arts and the Saxon State Ministry for Science, Culture, and Tourism. She is also a member of the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities and the European Academy of Sciences, and serves as the LMU Director of the Konrad Zuse School of Excellence in Reliable AI, as well as the spokesperson for the AI-HUB@LMU. Additionally, she recently co-founded the start-up Ecologic Computing with colleagues.
Prof. Dr. Iris Pigeot
„For artificial intelligence to have a transformative impact in the healthcare sector, we need health data that is legally accessible, of high quality, and optimally prepared for AI applications. Only in this way can we strengthen the long-term health and resilience of the population.“
Prof. Dr. Iris Pigeot has been the Director of the Leibniz Institute for Prevention Research and Epidemiology – BIPS for over 20 years and has led the Institute’s Department of Biometry and IT since 2001. Since 2020, she has served as Deputy Spokesperson for NFDI4Health, the National Research Data Infrastructure for Personal Health Data. Additionally, Prof. Dr. Pigeot became President of the International Biometric Society in 2024 and was appointed to the Federal Chancellery's Expert Council on Health and Resilience in 2024.
Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade
"The innovation potential of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare offers two benefits: AI can enhance both individual and population health, as well as the sustainability of healthcare systems. In the future, AI will play a crucial role in sustainable health and resilience by improving access to medical care and developing resource-efficient solutions with foresight. For example, AI-supported predictions and management of patient flows in healthcare facilities, AI-driven staff planning in hospitals, or AI-powered analysis of epidemiological or climate data for better models. Another example is the use of analytics to assess the public’s acceptance of protective measures or to identify fake news during a pandemic."
Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade is a specialist in medical microbiology and infection epidemiology, has completed his habilitation in medical microbiology and virology, and serves as an honorary professor at Charité. After professional positions at the universities of Göttingen and Aachen, as well as working as a consultant and division head at the Federal Ministry of Health, Prof. Dr. Lars Schaade joined the Robert Koch Institute in 2010. There, he served as head of department and, since 2011, as vice president before being appointed president of the Robert Koch Institute in 2023.
Prof. Dr. Mark Schweda
"AI should not replace human action in medicine and healthcare, but rather support and complement it."
Mark Schweda is a philosopher and medical ethicist. He is Professor of Ethics in Medicine and Director of the Department of Health Services Research at Faculty VI - Medicine and Health Sciences at the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. His work focuses on ethical aspects of aging and human temporality as well as technical assistance systems and digitalization in the context of medicine and healthcare. Among other things, he was involved in the Working Group for the Future of Aging of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics (UK) and is a member of the German Ethics Council.
17:15 Final words
17:30 End of event
Organizer
U Bremen Research Alliance
The U Bremen Research Alliance brings together the University of Bremen and twelve research institutes based in the federal state from all four German science organizations as well as the German Research Center for Artificial Intelligence. The aim of the cooperation is to closely interlink the diverse, excellent research in the fields of research data and artificial intelligence across institutional boundaries.
The research and action field of digital healthcare has become increasingly relevant, accelerated by the recognizable deficits in the corona pandemic. The U Bremen Research Alliance, funded by the state of Bremen, is therefore expanding the field of AI in the healthcare sector by establishing an AI Center for Health Care. This includes nine interorganizational scientific projects on AI and health as well as measures for science communication and transfer.
Cooperation partners
JUST ADD AI
JUST ADD AI (JAAI) helps companies understand and apply the latest AI technology to their business. JAAI's focus is on programming scalable AI solutions that immediately create added value for their customers. As soon as an AI solution is marketable and has its first customers and sales, it is spun off into a subsidiary and scaled up there. In order to secure the growth of the spin-offs, investments are made in the subsidiaries and strategic partners are brought on board.
The team consists of top specialists in the fields of speech processing, computer vision, big data and robotics, as well as experienced IT managers and architects. The mission: "Unlock Human Talent". By automating repetitive and time-consuming tasks, AI opens up new scope for developing the full potential of human talent.
JAAI was founded in 2017 and is based in Überseestadt.
Transferzentrum für Künstliche Intelligenz BREMEN.AI
The Transfer Center for Artificial Intelligence BREMEN.AI supports companies in the adoption of AI technologies and promotes the integration of the AI scene in Bremen. The center operates at the intersection of business, science, and politics.
With the official opening of the Transfer Center, the AI Transfer Center Bremen and the BREMEN.AI cluster have been merged to form the Transfer Center for Artificial Intelligence BREMEN.AI. By combining the cluster and the center, the concerns of the AI landscape in Bremen will be advanced with united efforts, providing an even broader range of topics to all interested parties. The center organizes various events, including networking meetings, AI training sessions, meetups for AI startups, general events, and potential analyses.
The Transfer Center is funded by the Senator for Economic Affairs, Labor, and Europe and is located in the Digital Hub Industry.
Integrierter Gesundheitscampus Bremen
The Integrated Health Campus Bremen (IGB) has existed since 2021 and was initiated by the Senator for Science and Ports in cooperation with the Senator for Health, Women, and Consumer Protection.
The IGB sees itself as a strategic and creative framework for a network of stakeholders from the fields of health research, health economics, healthcare, and health and nursing professions (referred to as 4G). With this strong networking structure, currently comprising over 40 network partners, the aim is to showcase Bremen’s regional potential in these areas, leverage synergies, and drive innovations within the region.
Cooperating in U Bremen Research Alliance:
