Credit: Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
New care models led by Charité undergo practical testing
Berlin, 21 July 2025
The Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) regularly uses the Innovation Fund to support the testing of new concepts in order to further improve healthcare in Germany. Two projects in the area of new forms of care are now being launched under the leadership of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. They are focussing on the prevention of the need for care and neurological care in rural areas. Over the next three to four years, the new concepts will be implemented in care and scientifically monitored. If they are successful, they can be incorporated into standard care.
The concepts to be trialled take particular account of demographic changes, scarcer personnel and financial resources and a lack of services in rural regions. “Charité’s renewed success in the current funding round for new care models shows just how strong Charité’s research is in this area. The new projects will make an important contribution to the further development of our healthcare system,” says Prof Wolfram Herrmann, spokesperson for the Platform – Charité Health Services Research.
Remain independent in old age for as long as possible
According to current estimates, the number of people in need of care in Germany is expected to rise to more than six million by 2030. This already poses major challenges for everyone involved in the health and care system as well as those affected and their relatives. It is therefore urgently necessary to strengthen care prevention in order to reduce or delay the demand for care services as much as possible. The PrevPfleg project will be launched this autumn with the aim of maintaining the independence of people with incipient limitations in their mental abilities for as long as possible, even if they have not yet been assigned a care level. As part of the Prevention Nursing programme, trained care staff will support people aged 65 and over in their mobility, cognitive performance and social participation, among other things. This is intended to help maintain independence and, where possible, relieve the burden on relatives. Technical assistance systems will support prevention nursing.
Project: Prevention of the need for care through Prevention Nursing (PrävPfleg)
Head: PD Dr Andrea Budnick and Prof. Adelheid Kuhlmey, Institute of Medical Sociology and Rehabilitation Science
Funding amount: around 6.8 million euros for 42 months, start: November 2025
Telemedicine: neurological care in rural areas
The prompt diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases is a challenge, particularly in view of the shortage of skilled staff. Rural regions in particular are affected, where demographic developments are creating an additional need for care. Telemedicine can play an important role in improving the quality of care. In the TENEAM project, patients with neurological abnormalities are referred by GPs to a specialised tele neurological consultation. Regardless of where they live, this enables rapid diagnostic clarification and further specialist treatment. The new concept is being compared with existing standard care, with the effects on the care situation and quality of life of patients as well as health economic aspects being analysed.
Project: TeleNeurological Outpatient Care in Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (TENEAM)
Head: PD Dr Christiana Franke and Prof Heinrich Audebert, Department of Neurology
Funding: around 8.4 million euros for 45 months, start: July 2025
Charité is also involved in the following projects as a consortium partner:
BEPPO: Evaluation of exercise and sports therapy interventions under medical therapy in paediatric oncology. Lead: University Hospital Essen, project lead at Charité: Prof. Pablo Hernáiz Driever, Department of Paediatrics with focus on oncology and haematology, duration: 10/2025 to 03/2029
IMPRO: Innovative management for patients with first-onset stable chest pain. Head: Philipps University Marburg, project management at the Charité: Dr Maria Bosserdt/ Prof Marc Dewey, Department of Radiology; Prof Henryk Dreger, Department of Cardiology; Prof Christoph Heintze, Institute of General Medicine, duration: 07/2025 to 09/2028
moVe-it: Evidence-based botulinum toxin treatment for spasticity after stroke and improvement of interdisciplinary cooperation. Management: Mobil Krankenkasse, Project management at the Charité: PD Dr Alexander H. Nave, Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology, Duration: 10/2025 to 09/2028
Project funding by the Innovation Committee
Since 2016, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) has been tasked with funding new forms of healthcare that go beyond the existing standard care and healthcare research projects that are aimed at gaining knowledge to improve existing care in the statutory health insurance system. An Innovation Committee has been set up at the Federal Joint Committee to implement funding from the Innovation Fund. The statutory funding amount for new forms of healthcare and healthcare research is 200 million euros per year. 80 per cent of the funds are to be used to promote new forms of healthcare provision and 20 per cent of the funds are to be used to promote healthcare research. The innovation fund is financed by the statutory health insurance funds from the health fund.