Fraunhofer ITMP stärkt internationale Zusammenarbeit durch Gastprofessur in China

Dr. Schara Safarian has taken up a visiting professorship at the Institute for Translational Medicine of the First Hospital of Jilin University in China. The appointment is part of a scientific exchange agreement and underlines the strategic international orientation of the Fraunhofer ITMP in pharmaceutical research.

© Jilin University/First Hospital
Dr. Schara Safarian (Fraunhofer ITMP) at the ceremonial signing of the scientific exchange agreement with the Institute of Translational Medicine at the First Hospital of Jilin University in China. The agreement forms the basis for her guest professorship and the strategic cooperation between both institutions.

Frankfurt am Main/Changchun. The Fraunhofer Institute for Translational Medicine and Pharmacology ITMP is expanding its international research cooperation: Dr. Schara Safarian, ATTRACT Group Leader - Biotherapeutics and Protein Engineering ITMP, has been appointed visiting professor at the Institute for Translational Medicine at Jilin University First Hospital in Changchun, China, effective October 2025. The visiting professorship is part of a bilateral scientific exchange agreement between the two institutions and aims to intensify joint research in translational medicine.

 

Strategic positioning in the Chinese research market

The cooperation enables Fraunhofer ITMP to establish its expertise in pharmaceutical research and drug development in the Chinese market while benefiting from the research capabilities of Jilin University. “This visiting professorship is an important milestone for our international networking,” explains Dr. Schara Safarian. “The scientific exchange with Chinese research institutions opens up new perspectives for joint projects in translational medicine and strengthens the position of ITMP as a globally active research institute.”

The Institute of Translational Medicine at Jilin University (JLU) First Hospital is one of the world's leading research institutions and ranks among the top 20 international research institutes in the renowned Nature Research Leadership Ranking.

 

Joint research for innovative therapeutic approaches

As part of the visiting professorship, Dr. Safarian and his colleagues at the ITMP will work closely with scientists at Jilin University to advance innovative approaches in drug development. The focus is on transferring scientific findings from basic research into clinical application – a core area of translational medicine.

“International cooperation is essential for excellent research in the field of structural biology for the identification of new therapeutics,” emphasizes Prof. Dr. Frank Behrens, Deputy Director of the Fraunhofer ITMP. “With Dr. Schara Safarian's visiting professorship, we are striving for long-term cooperation between Germany and a leading clinical and research institution in China, laying the foundation for forward-looking research projects that will benefit both sides.”

In addition to the visiting professorship, the scientific exchange agreement also provides for regular exchanges of young scientists as well as joint publications and conference contributions.