BfR
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Annual Report 2014
12
Research
The BfR focuses on independent, application-related, tar-
geted research within the scope of its key competences
with the help of which the Institute can conduct scien-
tific examinations and assessments in line with its legal
mandate. Not least through the BfR's international focus,
harmonisation by means of standardisation in the devel-
opment of methods and procedures plays a prominent
role at the Institute.
The BfR is independent in the conception and conducting
of all its research activities, thus securing and promot-
ing the scientific expertise for internationally recognised
competence in risk assessment and risk communication,
which is independent of economic interests. The prepa-
ration of new data, methods and procedures helps to
close knowledge gaps in the field of food, chemical and
consumer product safety, as well as risk communication
and risk perception. The results of all research activities
flow directly into the risk assessments and opinions of
the BfR and underpin the advisory services provided to
the three supervisory ministries, the Federal Ministry of
Food and Agriculture, the Federal Ministry for the Envi-
ronment, Building, Nature Conservation and Nuclear
Safety and the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital
Infrastructure.
The BfR has a modern experimental infrastructure in
chemical analysis, microbial diagnostics, toxicology and
food technology. An agricultural business with livestock
farming and aquaculture, as well as a facility for conduct-
ing experimental work on animals, enable the institute to
perform basic research and assessment tasks. In addition
to this, the BfR has state-of-the-art molecular and cellular
biology, as well as protein biochemistry laboratories for
the development of alternative and substitute methods to
animal experiments. In the laboratory for large and small
animals, work can be done up to safety level S2/L2, while
microbiological tasks are possible up to stage L3. This
means that the BfR is able to conduct cross-departmen-
tal and interdisciplinary examinations and assessments
along the entire supply and value chain. In its activities,
the BfR orientates on the relevant ISO norms and recog-
nised quality management standards. In its research, the
BfR works on the basis of the recommendations of the
German research community in line with the principles of
good scientific practice.
Presentation: New externally funded projects 2014
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In the field of nanotechnology, it is being examined
in the Franco-German research project “SolNano-
Tox” what role the solubility of nanomaterials plays
in their enrichment and toxic properties. In this
project, the BfR is collaborating with its French sis-
ter organisation ANSES, the Institute of Sciences
Chimiques de Rennes and the University of Leipzig.
The tasks of the BfR include conducting of
in-vitro
tests, analysis of biological samples with regard to
the possible enrichment of nanomaterials, and the
examination of possible structural changes using
imaging methods.
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The “SEEINGNano” project attracted funding from
the EU research programme Horizon 2020 in the
area of the risk perception of nanotechnology. Vi-
sualisation tools to help improve awareness and
understanding of nanotechnology are developed
and tested therein.
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In the main research area of estimating and as-
sessing exposure to biological risks, the Federal
Ministry of Education and Research is financing
the second promotion period of the two BfR re-
search projects “MRSA in the food chain (Med-
VetStaph-2)” and “Molecular epidemiology of the
new resistance mechanisms and quantitative risk
assessment of ESBL, AmpC-ß-lactamase and
carbapenemase in
Enterobacteriaceae
from the
food chain (RESET 2)”.
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In the area of main focus of identifying alternative
methods to experiments with animals, the BfR is
contributing two sub-projects as a partner of the
Berlin-Brandenburg research platform “BB3R”
with integrated postgraduate programme.
The BfR has a modern laboratory infrastructure, for example
for the analysis of exposure to airborne substances such
as chemicals, particles and compounds.
