News
Here you will find announcements of upcoming events as well as information on the most important new publications and current job vacancies. You can find Professor Spranger's general list of publications here.
In our article in the German Medical Journal “Artificial intelligence in radiology: from the experimental phase to productive application”, Prof. Dr. Dr. Spranger, Joana Günther and others provide a well-founded interim assessment of the current status of AI-based medical devices in radiology.
A worthwhile contribution to the further development and integration of AI technologies in the healthcare sector.
On May 22 and 23, 2025, an interdisciplinary pilot workshop was held in Bonn as part of the EU-funded CHANGER project. The aim of the workshop was to test new methodological approaches for integrating ethical reflection into project design and implementation.
The focus was on strengthening the skills of research ethics committees in dealing with the ethical challenges of new technologies and innovative research practices. After the presentation of the developed methods, the participants worked in small groups on possible implementation scenarios.
On May 20 and 21, 2025, Prof. Dr. Dr. Spranger and Joana Günther took part in the final conference of the joint project FRAIM - Beyond Pure Performance: An Ethical Framework for the Use of AI in Neuromedicine. The event took place at the University Forum Bonn.
The conference focused on current developments and challenges in the field of artificial intelligence in neuromedicine. In addition to exciting project presentations, expert lectures - including those by Prof. Dr. Markus Wenzel and Prof. Dr. Karolin Kappler - provided valuable input on aspects of the topic.
As part of the FRAIM project, Markus Wenzel will give a lecture on “AI: Control & Intelligence” on May 20, 2025, highlighting the many facets of the use of AI in medicine.
Artificial intelligence is changing medicine at a rapid pace - from innovative diagnostic procedures to ethical issues. There is much to discover about how AI will shape patient care in the future!
We invite all interested parties to this event! Further details on time and place as well as a link for registration can be found in the flyer.
AniMotion-Workshop
As part of the AniMotion project, an interdisciplinary workshop was held in Hanover on March 28, 2025, in which Elina Gläsersohn presented the results of the legal part of the project. The focus was placed on dealing with undefined legal terms in the approval procedure for animal experiments and the associated challenges for official practice.
Nomination to the new Specialised Ethics Committee and promotion of medical research
Researchers from the University of Bonn have been appointed to the newly created Specialised Ethics Committee for Special Procedures, which is located at the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM). The committee will begin its work on 1 July 2025 and will evaluate clinical trials with particularly complex requirements, including first-in-man studies and trials of novel drugs.
Among those appointed are experts from the fields of bioethics, medical law, rheumatology, oncology and clinical pharmacology. The commission aims to organise drug research in Germany more efficiently, while at the same time ensuring high ethical standards and the protection of study participants. Scientists such as Prof. Dr Dirk Lanzerath and Prof. Dr Dr Tade M. Spranger emphasise the importance of close networking with existing ethics committees in order to establish uniform evaluation standards. You can find more information here.
CHANGER Cafés
We invite you! You are welcome to take part in the webinar.
The CHANGER Cafés are regular, 30- to 60-minute informational webinars that provide valuable insights into the research techniques of new technologies and research practices. The webinars are designed for both knowledge transfer and education, offering participants a compact yet comprehensive learning experience. Each session will be recorded and published on the website.
The first session of the CHANGER Cafés will take place on 27 March 2025 from 14:00 to 15:00 CET via Zoom. This webinar is particularly aimed at people involved in the conduct, review or scientific engagement with studies in which research participants are deceived. Kamiel Verbeke, PhD student at the Centre for Biomedical Ethics and Law at KU Leuven, will discuss the ethical aspects of this research method. Verbeke will explain how deception is used in practice, the ethical challenges involved and the role of guidelines and ethics committees in reviewing such studies.Further information can be found here.
You can join the webinar via the following link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/4dTi86PYSHKKhSYxrH2WpA
ENTRANCE Regional Conference Bonn February 20/21, 2025
On Friday, February 21, 2025, Prof. Spranger gave a presentation at the ENTRANCE regional conference at the Digital Hub Bonn on the handling of patient data in medical collaborations with regard to regulation by
the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), the Regulation on Artificial Intelligence (AI Regulation) and the Regulation on the European Health Data Space (EHDS Regulation).
Sustainability Science Summit 2025
As part of the “Sustainability Science Summit 2025”, Prof. Spranger spoke on February 20, 2025 on the panel "Just Bio? Intergenerational Justice, Biodiversitiy Los, and the Sustainable Bioeconomy Transition". The conference was organized by the German Committee for Sustainability Research in Future Earth.
Block seminar ReAniMed
From 13 to 15 February 2025, Prof. Spranger, Prof. Verrel and Prof. Raupach organized the ReAniMed block seminar “Mit einem Bein im Knast - Rechtsängste in der Medizin” ("With One Foot in Prison - Legal Fears in Medicine"), featuring expert presentations and a subsequant moot-court in the Alte Anatomie (Bonn)
Appointed to the Federal Ethics Commission
Prof. Spranger was appointed by the Federal Ministry of Health, with effect from July 1, 2025, to the Specialized Ethics Commission for Advanced Procedures newly established under Section 41 c of the German Medicines Act (AMG). This Federal Ethics Commission will be responsible, among other things, for clinical trials in the field of novel therapies, in cases of first-in-human use, as well as in particular emergency situations, and is therefore intended to focus on the assessment of especially complex procedures and innovative new therapies.
The Commission is being established at the Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices, where its administrative office will also be located. The members of the Commission act independently and on an honorary basis.
Dies academicus: Between Cage and Basket – The Use of Pets as Laboratory Animals
Lecture on December 4, 2024, in Lecture Hall III of the Main Building
On December 4, 2024, Barbara Maria Hasenau delivered an interactive lecture addressing the issue of animal testing from a legal perspective. The primary reference point for the discussion was Directive 2010/63/EU, which outlines the protection of animals used for scientific purposes.
The lecture began with a fundamental question: What exactly is animal testing? Using the legal definition of animal testing, or more specifically the "procedure" as outlined in Article 3(1) of Directive 2010/63/EU, the purpose of animal testing and the selection of test animals were explored in detail.
A key aspect of the lecture involved a collaborative examination of the distinction between "laboratory animals" and "pets," alongside a presentation of the legislator’s approach to the use of pet species in research.
The audience was invited to actively engage with the lecture through an interactive tool (Mentimeter), anonymously sharing their views on the two main topics: the purpose of animal testing and the selection of test animals.
Conference of the German Society for Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Psychosomatics, and Neurology
Prof. Spranger and Joana Günther participated in the DGPPN Conference in Berlin from November 27, 2024, to November 28, 2024. As part of this, Prof. Spranger gave a lecture on "Rechtliche Fragen im Kontext KI-basierter Anwendungen in den klinischen Neurowissenschaften" ("Legal Issues in the Context of AI-Based Applications in Clinical Neurosciences.")
Neurotechnology: No Longer Just Science Fiction
Prof. Spranger has published a guest article on neurotechnology on beck-aktuell, in which he explains the legal challenges and current developments in Germany. The full article can be found here.
Speyer Days on Cemetery and Burial Law
Prof. Spranger gave a lecture on current case law in cemetery and burial law at the 16th Speyer Days, held from September 12 to 13.
"Fees for Repeated Registrations of Business Owners?"
Prof. Spranger has published an article titled "Gebühren für wiederholte Zulassungen Gewerbetreibender?" ("Fees for Repeated Registrations of Business Owners?") in the latest edition of the journal Friedhofskultur.
Kolloquium Research with dual use potential: Current status – regulatory framework – future developments with Prof. Dr. Dr. Tade M. Spranger
20.08.2024On August 20, 2024, Prof. Spranger gave a lecture at the Jülich Research Centre on the topic "Research with dual use potential: Current status – regulatory framework – future developments."
FRAIM Midterm Conference
On June 17-18, 2024, Prof. Spranger and Joana Günther participated in the Midterm Conference of the "FRAIM" project on the topic "Künstliche Intelligenz in der Neuroradiologie" ("Artificial Intelligence in Neuroradiology.")
Participation in the UNESCO expert discussion on the Neuroethics Declaration
On May 17, 2024, Prof. Spranger participated in the expert discussion on the planned UNESCO Declaration on Neuroethics, following an invitation from the UNESCO Commission.
AI regulation and the world of medicine - an overview
On May 16, 2024, Prof. Spranger gave a lecture at the Jülich Research Centre, Institute of Neuroscience and Medicine, for the research groups Brain and Behavior (INM-7), on the topic "AI Regulation and the World of Medicine – An Overview."
Lecture and panel discussion at Dies Academicus: “Which diversity should we protect? An interdisciplinary perspective on nature conservation”
In the context of the Dies Academicus on 15th of May 2024, Prof. Dr. Tade Spranger together with Prof. Dr. Dirk Lanzerath and Dr. Marius Bartmann (German Reference Centre for Ethics in the Life Sciences, DRZE), Prof. Dr. Sandra Venghaus (Institute of Energy and Climate Research, IEK, Forschungszentrum Jülich) and Prof. Dr. Maximilian Weigend (Bonn Institute of Organismic Biology, BIOB) delivered a lecture followed by a panel discussion. The event focused on the topic “Which diversity should we protect? An interdisciplinary perspective on nature protection”. The Anthropocene marks an epoch in which human activities dominate the planet and lead to a dramatic loss of biodiversity, particularly due to anthropogenic climate change. Biodiversity is essential for ecosystem services that ensure our survival. Nevertheless, concrete conservation measures face challenges, as these can vary depending on the understanding of nature. In the face of climate change, however, it is often impossible to restore biodiversity to its former state, and even the protection of existing nature requires human intervention. The question of how nature should be shaped in order to do justice to future generations is therefore decisive. Consequently, it is necessary to discuss which forms of biodiversity protection are appropriate. The lecture dealt with the connection between nature protection and its ethical implications as well as legal regulatory options and bioeconomic strategies to change existing practices of resource use.
„Vatican permits the division of ashes“
Prof. Spranger has published an article in the journal Friedhofskultur on the recent decision by the Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith regarding the division of cremated remains.
"Harmful uses of patentable neurotechnology: a new regulatory approach: Proposing a framework safeguarding human rights and social responsibility for patented applications of neuroscience"
Prof. Spranger has co-authored an article in the journal EMBO Reports, together with several other authors, on a new approach to regulating the negative uses of patents. The article presents a new regulatory framework aimed at highlighting fundamental rights protection and promoting ethical reflection within the patenting process.
ELSA Symposium on "Animal Welfare and Stem Cell Use"
On March 12, 2024, Prof. Spranger spoke at the ELSA Symposium "Tierschutz und Stammzellverwendung" ("Animal Welfare and the Use of Stem Cells") in Düsseldorf on the topic „Tierschutzrecht und Stammzellgesetz - Leitplanken oder Korsett der Forschung?" ("Animal Welfare Law and the Stem Cell Act – Guidelines or Constraints for Research?")
DGKN-Congress (German Society for Clinical Neurophysiology and Functional Imaging Congress)
![[Translate to Englisch:] Tade Spranger](/fileadmin/_processed_/6/c/csm_TadeSpranger_f03ec9ef6c.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Tade Spranger")
On March 7, 2024, Prof. Spranger gave a lecture at the annual congress of the DGKN, under the overarching theme "Auf dem Weg zur personalisierten Medizin" ("Towards Personalized Medicine"), in Frankfurt am Main. His talk addressed the topic "Rechtliche Fragen im Kontext KI-basierter Anwendungen in den klinischen Neurowissenschaften" ("Legal Issues in the Context of AI-Based Applications in Clinical Neurosciences").
INPI Conference "Brain Patents: A Legal and Societal Challenge?"
![[Translate to Englisch:] Tade Spranger](/fileadmin/_processed_/6/c/csm_website_bild_17f1dcfe80.jpg "[Translate to Englisch:] Tade Spranger")
On February 29, 2024, Prof. Dr. Dr. Tade Spranger and Prof. Dr. Judy Illes (UBC) organized the conference "Brain Patents: A Legal and Societal Challenge?" as part of the third-party funded project INPI. The conference, featuring presentations by Prof. Dr. Dirk Lanzerath, Prof. Dr. Zelma Kiss, Dr. Marvin Bartels, and Ari Rotenberg, focused on the interplay between patent law and human rights, with a particular emphasis on neuroscience patents, and was a great success. The subsequent discussions with the participants were highly fruitful and provided much inspiration for future publications.
Conference: "Brain patents: A legal and societal challenge?"
On Thursday, February 29, 2024, starting at 10:00 a.m., Prof. Dr. Judy Illes from the University of British Columbia and Prof. Dr. Dr. Tade Spranger from the Rheinische Friedrichs-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn will host a conference titled "Brain patents: A legal and societal challenge?" at the AMERON Hotel Königshof in Bonn. As part of a research project, the conference will examine the interplay between patent law and human rights, with a particular focus on neuroscientific patents. The conference will focus on the question of the extent to which patent law can be used to enable appropriate handling of social challenges relevant to human rights that may arise from neuroscientific inventions. Speakers will include Prof. Dr. Dirk Lanzerath, Prof. Dr. Zelma Kiss, Dr. Marvin Bartels and Ari Rotenberg. The event will conclude with a closing discussion at approximately 3:45 p.m.
Please contact mitarbeiter.spranger@~@jura.uni-bonn.de to register due to limited places. The conference is free of charge.
Report: "The Generation of Artificial Germ Cells"
The status report "Die Generierung von künstlichen Keimzellen" ("The Generation of Artificial Germ Cells") has been published. It provides an overview of this highly topical field at the intersection of biomedical research, legal classification, and ethical evaluation. Prof. Spranger, together with Prof. Gassner, explains the legal aspects.
Ethics Forum "Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: Manage Nature or Shape It?"
On October 16, 2023, the DRZE organized an interdisciplinary symposium in the context of the BMBF-funded joint project PRACC: Practical Challenges of Climate Change, in which Prof. Dr. Dr. Spranger participated as a project partner.
""On the New Consistent Case Law of the CJEU in European Genetic Engineering Law"
Prof. Spranger has published an article in the European Journal of Economic Law on the new constant case law of the CJEU in European genetic engineering law, which also discusses the landmark CJEU ruling of February 7, 2023 – CJEU Case No. C-688/21 C-688/2.
"Beschleunigte Verwesung"
Prof. Spranger has commented in Der Spiegel on a new form of burial. The full article can be found here.
Ethics Forum on October 16, 2023
On October 16, 2023, the Ethics Forum on the topic "Biodiversität im Anthropozän: Natur verwalten oder gestalten?" ("Biodiversity in the Anthropocene: Manage Nature or Shape It?") will take place at the University Club Bonn as part of the PRACC project. For more information, please visit the DRZE website.
Participation in the International Neuroethics Patent Initiative Workshop at the Maury Young Arts Centre
Within the framework of the INPI (Neuroethics Patent Initiative) project, Professor Spranger and student assistants Anna Hemmer and Julia Hansmann travelled to Canada to participate in the workshop at the Maury Young Arts Centre and to give presentations to the international audience on the topics "IP and human rights looking ahead: building bridges for the international landscape" and "Morality and human rights in neuroscience and law".
Position Paper on the Positive List for Companion Animals
On June 17, 2023, Prof. Spranger presented a legal opinion on behalf of the German Pet Trade and Industry Association (ZZF) at the association's general assembly, assessing the legal permissibility of introducing a national positive list for companion animals. According to Prof. Spranger, the introduction of such a list—as recently proposed by Federal Minister of Agriculture Cem Özdemir—would significantly violate various provisions of international, European, and constitutional law.
Participation in the 7th Status Seminar of the ELSA funding priority at the (German) Federal Ministry of Education and Research.
As part of an elevator pitch at the 7th Status Seminar of the ELSA funding priority at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, Professor Spranger's following projects were presented at a poster session:
1. INPI - International Neuroethics Patent Initiative.
Click here for the INPI poster
2. AniMotion - Selection Criteria in Ethical and Legal Perspective
Click here for the AniMotion poster
3. PRACC - Practical Challenges of Climate Change
Click here for the PRACC poster
Redeker Award for Outstanding Doctoral Research 2023
We are very pleased to congratulate our former doctoral candidate Alena Jerrentrup on receiving this year's Redeker Doctoral Award for her outstanding dissertation entitled "Kinder als 'Ersatzteillieferanten' im rechtlichen Kontext: Von der Nabelschnurblutspende zur Selektion von Retterkindern" ("Children as 'Spare Part Suppliers' in the Legal Context: From Umbilical Cord Blood Donation to the Selection of Savior Siblings").
Sustainability Congress of the SRH Fernhochschule
On 22 April 2023, Prof. Spranger gave a lecture in Heidelberg on the topic of "Climate Protection Law" with regard to the decision of the Bundesverfassungsgericht (Federal Constitutional Court) of 24 March 2021 on the Climate Protection Act at the Sustainability Congress of the SRH Fernhochschule.
Prof. Dr. Dr. Tade M. Spranger is a member of the editorial board of the Zeitschrift für medizinische Ethik (ZfmE).
The Journal of Medical Ethics aims to discuss the basic questions and current developments in medical ethics in an interdisciplinary manner and to bring the contribution of Christian ethics and the basic anthropological insights of the Western tradition into the increasingly complex medical-ethical discussion in a special way. In accordance with the subtitle of the journal, medical-ethical questions are to be dealt with from an all-embracing perspective of science, culture and religion.
"Many things here are impious to the maximum"
Professor Spranger gave an interview in the Bonner General-Anzeiger on the topic of "Gravestones from forbidden child labour" with the title "Many things here are impious to the maximum". You can find the whole interview here.
Symposium: „Grabsteine aus Kinderarbeit – zur Umsetzung des ILO-Übereinkommens Nr. 182 auf deutschen Friedhöfen“
On Wednesday, Nov. 23, 2022, starting at 9:00 a.m., Professor Spranger will host a symposium titled "Gravestones from Child Labor - On the Implementation of ILO Convention No. 182 in German Cemeteries" at the Uni-Club of the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn.
The symposium will conclude a research project on the prohibition of problematic materials in German state cemetery laws. Experts from politics, academia and practice will examine the issue from different perspectives. The event will conclude with a closing panel at approximately 4:15 pm.
Lecture in the context of the dialogue event "Stem cell technology at the translational threshold" of the Stem Cell Network NRW
Prof. Spranger gave a lecture on the topic "Der Nikolausbeschluss und das Translationsverbot des StZG“ at the interdisciplinary dialogue event "Stem Cell Technology at the Translational Threshold" of the Stem Cell Network NRW on 31.03.2022 and had a lively exchange with the other speakers and participants on the current challenges of the German Stem Cell Act and in particular on its need for reform.
You can find the detailed follow-up report of the Stem Cell Network NRW on the successful event here.
Event: 14th World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law
From 07.03.2022 - 10.03.2022, Prof. Spranger participated in the 14th World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics & Health Law as part of the externally funded project INPI, together with two staff members from Bonn and a staff member from the Canadian sub-project. In addition to attending the other expert presentations, especially from the fields of medicine, bioethics and medical law, the first research results of the project were presented to the expert audience through the expert presentations by Prof. Spranger (topic: "Brain Patents in the Legal Landscape") and Ashley Lawson (topic: "The Challenge of Open Science to Brain Patents and Intellectual Property Protection"). Further information on the INPI project can be found here.
Event: 14th World Conference on Bioethics, Medical Ethics and Health Law
As part of the externally funded project "INPI - International Neuroethics Patent Initiative", Professor Spranger will give a lecture on "Brainpatents in the Legal Landscape" at the conference to be held in Porto on 07 March 2022, which will deal with legal issues relating to patents in the field of neuroscience. For more general information on the research project "INPI" click here.
Event: Stem Cell Network NRW
Professor Spranger is going to participate in the North Rhine-Westphalian Stem Cell Network's event on the 31st of March 2022, holding a lecture on „Der Nikolausbeschluss und das Translationsverbot des StZG“.
Further information and the chance to registrate for the event is given on the Website of the Stem Cell Network NRW.
Event: 10. Symposium of the FUNUS-Foundation
On the 12th of May 2022, Professor Spranger and Charlotte Noack are going to deliver a lecutre about the topic "Immer noch da? Über den Umgang mit Wachsleichen" in Kabelsketal (Germany).
Further Information is available on the Website of the FUNUS-Foundation.