Matthias Greiner becomes BfR department head and professor at TiHo Hanover
First joint appointment of the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment and the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover and TiHo Hannover
Risks that can arise from food and consumer goods are diverse and complex. In order to determine a possible risk to consumers, information about the intake levels of pathogens and pollutants is necessary. One focus of the research at the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is therefore the development of methods for collecting data in the context of risk assessment and exposure estimation. The BfR has strengthened this research area through a joint appointment with the University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover (TiHo). Privatdozent Dr. Matthias Greiner will be appointed to the TiHo Hannover as a university professor and will also be in charge of the department for scientific cross-sectional tasks at the BfR. "With Dr. Matthias Greiner has expanded his research competence in an important, consumer-relevant work area, ”says BfR President Professor Dr. Dr. Andreas Hensel. The President of TiHo, Dr. Dr. hc Gerhard Greif, made it clear: "The scientific exchange between the BfR and the TiHo Hannover will be strengthened by this appointment."
As a veterinarian and statistician, Matthias Greiner has been working at the BfR since 2006 in the fields of epidemiology, biostatistics and mathematical modelling. He regularly works as an expert for the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and, as the prospective President of the European College for Veterinary Public Health, is also involved in the promotion of young scientists. Greiner's professional career shows that he has acquired relevant scientific and administrative skills as an interdisciplinary researcher.
Greiner completed his studies in veterinary medicine at the Freie Universität (FU) Berlin and did his doctorate in a medical laboratory on the diagnostic detection of mycobacteria. After completing his Master of Science in Statistics at Hallam Sheffield University in Great Britain, he habilitated in the Department of Veterinary Medicine at the Free University of Berlin in the fields of epidemiology and biometrics. From 1989 to 2002, Greiner was head of the serological laboratory at the Institute for International Animal Health and the Institute for Parasitology at the Free University of Berlin. After four years as head of the International Research Center for Veterinary Epidemiology (International EpiLab) at the former Danish Institute for Food and Veterinary Research (DFVF) in Copenhagen, he started working at the BfR. Greiner's main research areas are the validation of diagnostic procedures and methodical developments in risk assessment and exposure estimation.
The Department of Scientific Interdisciplinary Tasks currently includes six specialist groups: International Chemicals Programs, Poisoning and Product Documentation, Epidemiology, Biometrics and Mathematical Modeling, Exposure Estimation and Standardization, Information Technology and the GLP Federal Office and Quality Management. The linking of the different main tasks within the BfR and the scientific advice of the federal authorities represent further challenging tasks. Greiner will represent the BfR in relevant national and international committees.
As a professor for quantitative risk assessment and exposure modeling at the TiHo Hannover, Greiner will both pursue his teaching duties and expand scientific research.
This first joint appointment by the BfR and a university is aimed at even closer integration in the areas of research and the promotion of young talent. Greiner's joint appointment to the BfR and the TiHo Hannover is therefore a model for science-based consumer protection in Germany.
About BfR
The Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) is a scientific institution in the Federal Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Consumer Protection (BMELV). It advises the Federal Government and the states on questions of food, chemical and product safety. BfR engages in research on topics that are closely linked to its assessment tasks.
About the TiHo
The Foundation of the University of Veterinary Medicine in Hanover was founded in 1778 as the Roß-Arzney School and is the only veterinary medical training center in Germany that has retained its independent status. A total of around 2.300 students are enrolled at the TiHo. These include students of veterinary medicine, master's students in biology as well as doctoral and PhD students.
Source: Hanover / Berlin [ BfR / TiHo ]
