Science@Lausitz kick-off event: Strong start to cooperation between BTU and MUL-CT

With the Medical University of Lusatia - Carl Thiem (MUL-CT), a second university is currently being established in Cottbus. From the winter semester 2026/27, doctors of medicine will be trained there. As BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg already offers study programmes in humanities and health sciences, synergies are also to be used in the area of research. The first expression of this cooperation is the Science@Lausitz event series. According to BTU Vice President Prof. Dr Hübner in his welcoming speech, the aim is to meet twice a semester, alternating between BTU and MUL-CT, to discuss joint, pioneering research projects in the fields of medicine, healthcare and digitalisation.

The high level of interest shown by staff from both universities in exchanging expertise was reflected in the high level of participation at the first event, which was organised by MUL-CT and focused on nuclear medicine. Nuclear medicine plays a key role in the first joint research project, which focuses on the detection and treatment of prostate cancer. This is visualised by injecting patients with a radioactive substance that not only illuminates the carcinoma, but also any metastases in the body. Captured on images, the surgeons can then remove the tumour in a very targeted manner and significantly increase the chance of a cure. Prof. Dr Florian Fuller (MUL-CT) and interim professor Dr.-Ing. habil. Christian Herglotz are also supporting the project with their expertise.

Lecture on joint research and guided tour of the Nuclear Medicine Clinic

The Da Vinci surgical system, which is a robot-assisted surgical system, is used for the operations. This is where the research of Prof. Dr Dr Harald Schenk from the Chair of Micro and Nano Systems at BTU and Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS, who works on smart sensor technology, comes in. Together with Dr Michael Starke, Head of the Nuclear Medicine Clinic at the MUL-CT, he is working on the topic of "Sensor-guided surgery in prostate cancer - a multimodal therapy approach" to significantly increase the precision of interventions and the efficiency of treatments.

Prof. Schenk said: "It is totally exciting for me to work with people who come from other disciplines". Dr Starke was also enthusiastic about the collaboration: "It's great fun to work together. And the industry has already taken notice of us." Starke began the kick-off event with a tour of the Nuclear Medicine Clinic, during which interested parties from BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg were given fascinating insights. Starke explained the problems involved in procuring radiopharmaceuticals in Germany, showed the premises and explained the technical equipment, which is state of the art as it was only purchased a few years ago.