Cooperations, network and research at the Institute for Diversity Medicine
The Institute for Diversity Medicine at Ruhr University Bochum is embedded in a strong network of regional and international collaborations dedicated to investigating how diversity-related factors influence medical decision-making. In close cooperation with clinical and research partners, we develop the foundations for context-aware and diversity-sensitive medicine.
The Institute
The Institute for Diversity Medicine at Ruhr University Bochum is the first university institute in Germany to systematically analyse diversity-related factors in medicine. Our objective is to establish a context-aware medical practice that accounts for individual factors across prevention, diagnostics, treatment, and aftercare.
The Institute’s research investigates the role of biological, social, and cultural differences in medical decision-making. This leads to a central research question: whether diversity-related factors are causal drivers of observed phenomena or primarily confounding or modifying influences.
The Institute’s interdisciplinary work is embedded in a dense network of regional, national, and international collaborations.
The co-operation network
The Institute works in close collaboration with partners from the clinical, research, and health care sectors. These partnerships facilitate scientific exchange and support the development of supra-regional standards for diversity-sensitive medicine.
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Regional
National
International
Research projects in co-operation
Our research is carried out in close collaboration with clinical and academic partners. The projects presented integrate diverse care settings and research disciplines.
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Project EquiRefBlood
In the EquiRefBlood project, the Institute of Diversity Medicine is re-evaluating the reference values of the blood count. The prospective cohort study covers around 1,500 healthy adults. Cooperation partners are: Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR), Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance (IPA), Bochum-Wattenscheid Outpatient Health Centre (GZB).
Project DiVersO
The DiVersO project validates a diversity questionnaire in clinical oncological practice. This cooperation enables the instrument to be trialled in different care contexts. Cooperation partners are: Catholic clinics, Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum University Hospital, Marien Hospital Herne UKRUB Rheumatology Centre, Marienhospital Herne UKRUB.
Project CDDF Diversity Initiative
A European consortium is developing recommendations for diversity-sensitive clinical studies in the CDDF Diversity Initiative project. The project lays the foundations for European standards in clinical research. Cooperation partners are: the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), the European Hematology Association (EHA), WECAN and research-based pharmaceutical companies.
Project ErExMed
The ErExMed project explores the significance of cultural background in existential medical situations. The clinical partners provide access to patients in critical care situations: The study is being conducted in cooperation with the Catholic clinics, the University of Duisburg-Essen and Essen University Hospital.
Project Dim.Ruhr
In the area of data infrastructure, Dim.Ruhr is a data competence centre for the interprofessional use of health data. The centre links various healthcare professions and research institutions in the region.
Project iDEM-Support
The educational project iDEM-Support supports family carers of people with dementia. Cooperation partners are: the World Health Organisation (WHO), the German Alzheimer Society (DAlzG) and the University of Witten/Herdecke.
UnBiasMe and DIAGNOSE projects
The UnBiasMe and DIAGNOSE projects systematically analyse unconscious biases in medical practice and develop training measures derived from this.
DeliA prevalence study
The DeliA prevalence study investigates delirium in care facilities for the elderly. Cooperation partners are: the Carl von Ossietzky University of Oldenburg and the German Centre for Neurodegenerative Diseases e. V. in Witten (DZNE).
