Revolution in Lower Saxony: AI is transforming the medicine of the future!

Revolution in Lower Saxony: AI is transforming the medicine of the future!

On September 23, 2025, Lower Saxony's Science Minister Falko Mohrs and Dr. Georg Schütte from the Volkswagen Foundation Lower Saxony Center for Artificial Intelligence and Causal Methods in Medicine (CAIMed) at the Hanover Medical School. The aim of the visit was to find out about current projects that deal with AI-supported healthcare and personalized medicine.

The minister emphasized the excellent quality of AI-based life science research in Lower Saxony and its potential benefits for clinical applications. Dr. Schütte highlighted the important connection between the development of AI methods, medical research and clinical practice. CAIMed President, Professor Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner, explained that AI not only makes clinical decisions more precise, but will also significantly shape healthcare in the future.

Practical applications of AI in medicine

Various AI applications were presented during the visit, including improving cervical cancer diagnostics through AI image analysis and deep learning in cytology. In oncology, AI methods support the identification of extrachromosomal DNA, enabling individualized therapies. AI models also helped predict Long COVID and develop appropriate prevention strategies.

In pediatric intensive care medicine, a prediction model for nosocomial sepsis was presented that provides early warning of impending blood poisoning. Telemedical solutions for children's hospitals in Lower Saxony were also discussed. In addition, AI-supported CT analyzes in radiology enable faster and more precise detection of pulmonary nodules.

CAIMed is funded by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Science and Culture as part of the Volkswagen Foundation's zukunft.niedersachsen program. The consortium includes several important institutions, including the AI ​​research center L3S, the Hannover Medical School and the Göttingen University Medical Center.

The role of AI in healthcare

Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in medicine. According to the Federal Medical Association AI is seen as a “powerful tool” with revolutionary potential. It helps radiologists detect tumors in X-rays, MRIs and CT scans. It is now also possible to create treatment plans and make appointments using AI systems.

In addition, robot assistants are increasingly being used to relieve doctors in the operating room, while chatbots are used as therapists. However, these developments also bring challenges. Neurophysiologist Susanne Schreiber points out the ethical and legal questions that arise when AI makes incorrect decisions and emphasizes the need for AI applications to be carefully tested and certified.

In an exciting project, assistant doctor Valentina Busik has developed an avatar for patient education that explains diagnoses and therapeutic approaches in different languages. Despite the positive aspects, patients show a certain skepticism about the use of AI. Studies show that doctors who use AI are often perceived as less competent and empathetic, underscoring the importance of education.

The topic is also important for intensive care physicians. They hope that the use of AI will provide noticeable relief for doctors and nursing staff, as intensive care physician Arne Peine emphasizes. The developments are seen as part of an impending fundamental shift in medical practice that brings both opportunities and challenges.