The Public Health Working Group deals with population-relevant aspects in occupational medicine and maritime medicine, whether in specific population groups or subgroups (e.g. in the world of work) or in the population as a whole (e.g. in international travel).

One focus is on international health protection at so-called points of entry, especially ports and airports. There is close cooperation with the Port and Airport Medical Service of the City of Hamburg (HPHC).

Another important area of work is the investigation and development of workplace-related public health prevention strategies, e.g. early detection of exposure to carcinogenic substances.

Current Projects

  • The general (conceptual) objective of HEALTHY SAILING is to contribute to improve quality of passenger shipping services brought to society, facilitating recovery from COVID-19 pandemic, making the passenger shipping sector, safer, more resilient, competitive and efficient by producing evidence for infection control, validated prevention, mitigation, management measures and training to be used for policy making and ship operations, whose implementation will reduce public health incidents on-board large passenger ships.

    27 partners consisting of university institutions and industry are collaborating on the project. The total funding amount is €3.7 million.

    Funding: Horizon Europe Framework Programme (HORIZON)

  • Several randomized trials from US and Europe have demonstrated the capability of low dose computed tomography (LDCT) to detect lung cancer early and significantly reduce mortality. Since the US have rolled out LDCT screening in 2013, several adjustments were needed to overcome difficulties of nationwide implementation, esp. regarding recruitment. Due to the heterogeneous landscape of lung cancer care in Europe, it is not realistic to believe that screening criteria and conditions from the highly scientific lung cancer screening trials are 1:1 transferrable to the real-world conditions in 27 different countries of the European Union. Backed by the expertise and network of all relevant European societies and stakeholders, SOLACE will assess the current state of play, needs and best practice of Lung Cancer Screening (LCS) in EU member states and produce a comprehensive guideline and implementation package covering all steps of the lung cancer screening pathway: evidence-based guidelines, technical papers, SOPs, documents regarding quality assurance, methodology, benefit-harm balance, cost-effectiveness. This package will be used to showcase de novo implementation. Moreover, SOLACE will design, plan and roll-out three pilot projects in 10 member states with more than 12000 participants to address key issues to increase participation: gender aspects, inequalities regarding hard-to-reach populations (social, ethnic, geographical) and higher risk individuals. Quality assurance, cost-effectiveness analysis with dedicated models for different healthcare systems, harms (radiation exposure, overdiagnosis, complications). SOLACE will establish the European Lung Cancer Screening Alliance (ELCSA) serving as a long-lasting interdisciplinary platform as a backbone for sustained implementation in all member states

    Funding: EU Call EU4Health

  • The aim is to develop, plan and implement a concept for scientific evaluation and quality assurance of screening programs such as the EVA-Lunge in order to be able to generate sound data on the implementation and effectiveness of early detection for lung cancer using LD-HRCT. Using quality indicators and performing analyses will allow to determine important outcome parameters such as the detection rate of lung cancer, the rate of so-called false-positive findings, the rate of diagnostic work-up after LD-HRCT examination or the number of potential recognition of occupational disease no. 4104 (lung cancer) generated from the screening program. Parameters will be recorded overall and stratified - e.g. according to examination round (initial, subsequent examinations), participant characteristics or region. Furthermore, attitudes towards, subjective perceptions of, and psychological strain in relation to EVA-Lunge among insured persons will be assed using qualitative research. Additionally, knowledge and attitudes towards lung cancer screening using LD-HRCT among physicians will be investigated.

    Funding: German Social Accident Insurance - DGUV (Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung)

  • The general objective of the action is to support cooperation and coordination between Member States in order to improve their capacities at the points of entry, including ports, airports and ground crossings, in preventing and combating cross-border health threats affecting or inherently coming from the transport sector, and therefore contribute to a high level of public health protection in the European Union. In the case of public health emergencies of international concern, the joint action will move from the interepidemic mode to an emergency mode with the objective to support coherent response of MS according to Decision No 1082/2013/EU and implementation of temporary recommendations issued by the WHO according to the International Health Regulations.

    Funding: European Commission (EC), Third Health Programme


  • Ports handle international cargo traffic, and the number of passengers embarking and disembarking on cruise ships and ferries is constantly increasing. The cramped conditions and limited medical care on board can facilitate the transmission of infectious agents, which can be introduced by crew members and passengers during shore leave. The aim of the project is to improve the prevention and management of infectious events on board ships and especially in port as an interface with the local population. Port security is central to public health.