News
New book release from the CCC integrative project: Integrative interventions in oncology
AZKIM partner Stefanie Joos, together with Cornelia Mahler, has published an interprofessional practice and consultation handbook that, for the first time, presents evidence-based complementary medicine approaches to supportive care for cancer patients. The team of authors from the CCC Integrative Project summarizes the current evidence and describes naturopathic and complementary therapies such as aromatherapy, acupressure, external applications, and phytotherapy. The book is aimed at nurses, oncology nurses, physicians, phytotherapists, and other healthcare professionals.
15-18 October 2025, 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
AZKIM partner Prof. H. Cramer served as president of the 3rd World Congress on Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine in Rio de Janeiro, which brought together international experts from more than 70 countries representing academia, clinical practice, and policy. The congress was held under the theme “Strengthening Global Public Health through Traditional, Complementary and Integrative Medicine: Knowledge Diversity, Well-Being Societies and Planetary Health”.
12-14 October 2025, World Health Summit Berlin
The World Health Summit 2025 brought together international players from the global health sector in Berlin. Under the motto "Taking Responsibility for Health in a Fragmenting World", AZKIM partner Prof. H. Cramer led the workshop Integrative Medicine in Global Health: Pathways for Implementation with the participation of representatives of the World Health Organisation and the Indian Council of Medical Research.
INSIGHT - the interprofessional training and counselling programme from CCC-Integrativ - starts on 11 October 2025
The interprofessional training and counselling programme "INSIGHT" emerged from the CCC-Integrativ counselling programme, which was developed and established at the four top oncological centres in Baden-Württemberg (Freiburg, Heidelberg, Tübingen and Ulm) by AZKIM partners Prof. S. Joos and Dr. J. Valentini, among others, and is based on its impressive results on the effectiveness of interprofessional counselling of oncological patients using complementary methods(Valentini et al., 2024). In the interprofessional training programme "INSIGHT", you will learn the most important aspects of evidence-based counselling in integrative medicine and care in oncology in theory and practice within 9 months. The training programme is aimed at doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals.
19 March 2025, Foundation of the Academic Consortium for Naturopathy, Integrative Medicine and Health (ACoNIG)
AZKIM project managers Yvonne Samstag and Holger Cramer have co-founded the Academic Consortium for Naturopathy, Integrative Medicine and Health (ACoNIG), which is now being launched. The aim of the Germany-wide association is to promote scientific research into naturopathic, complementary and integrative approaches. The members are researchers from universities. The ACoNIG is committed to international cooperation and the further development of naturopathy and integrative medicine worldwide. The ACoNIG is involved in university teaching and the promotion of young scientists and supports the exchange between science and the public. The ACoNIG thus makes an important contribution to the safe and effective integration of these approaches into the German healthcare system.
10 March 2025, foundation of the first German research site of the international research network Cochrane Complementary Medicine
Under the leadership of Prof H. Cramer, a new research site of the international research network Cochrane Complementary Medicine was founded at the Medical Faculty of the University of Tübingen, the University Hospital of Tübingen and the Bosch Health Campus in Stuttgart. The aim is to promote research into complementary medicine in Germany in order to create sound knowledge on the effectiveness and safety of complementary medical procedures such as acupuncture, yoga or medicinal plants.
Cochrane is an independent, international network of scientists, doctors and other experts that has been producing systematic reviews since 1993. These so-called Cochrane Reviews provide well-founded scientific assessments of medical procedures and serve as a reliable basis for decision-making for patients, doctors and the healthcare system. In Tübingen and Stuttgart, topics such as yoga for diabetes, acupuncture for tension headaches and echinacea in the prevention of infections will initially be addressed in Cochrane Reviews. Further patient-relevant topics are to follow.
16 November 2024, lecture by Prof. Yvonne Samstag at the XIV European Congress for Integrative Medicine (ECIM), Madrid
At the 14th European Congress for Integrative Medicine taking place in Madrid from 15-17 November 2024, Prof. Yvonne Samstag explained in her lecture how certain plant substances can both support and inhibit the immune system in the fight against cancer. The focus was on the tumour microenvironment and the complex interactions between plant-based active substances and immune cells. The findings presented emphasise the need for further research to better understand the effect of herbal products and to be able to further develop dosage, combination and synergies with established cancer therapies.
MSD Health Award 2024 for CCC-Integrativ
The CCC-Integrativ project was awarded the special prize for interprofessional healthcare at the MSD Health Award ceremony on 5 November 2024. On behalf of the consortium, Dr Jan Valentini and Prof Stefanie Joos from Tübingen University Hospital accepted the special prize, which comes with prize money of 10,000 euros. The MSD Health Prize has been awarded annually since 2011 to projects that demonstrably improve healthcare for patients in Germany.
NATUM 2024 science prize
Jan Valentini was awarded this year's Natum e.V. Complementary Medicine Research Prize on 2 November 2024 on behalf of the team for the work "CCC Integrative: Implementation of an evidence-based, interprofessional, cross-sectoral advisory programme on complementary medicine and care (KMP) at the four CCCs in Baden-Württemberg". Natum e.V. is the working group for naturopathy, acupuncture, environmental and complementary medicine of the German Society for Gynaecology and Obstetrics.
1 February 2023, Prof. Stefanie Joos on the Expert Council for Health & Care
Since 1 February 2023, AZKIM partner Prof. Stefanie Joos has been a member of the Expert Council Health & Care. This independent council for the assessment of developments in the German healthcare system is interdisciplinary and comprises seven members who are appointed by the Federal Minister of Health for a period of four years.
4-6 October 2023, German Congress for Health Services Research
Daniela Hesmert presented the results of a survey study on complementary and integrative medicine (KIM) at the university hospitals in Baden-Württemberg at the German Congress for Health Services Research, which took place in Berlin from 4-6 October 2023. 2026 doctors, nurses and other people from professional groups with direct contact to patients were asked about their attitudes, subjective knowledge and needs with regard to CIM.
21 September 2023, Lecture by Prof. Y. Samstag at the 2nd World Congress on Integrative Medicine & Health (WCIMH), Rome
Prof. Yvonne Samstag gave a lecture on a comparative analysis of the effect of different plant extracts and corresponding lead substances of Arnica montana L. (arnica) on human T cells at the 2nd World Congress on Integrative Medicine & Health (WCIMH), which took place from 21-23 September 2023 in Rome. Prof. Yvonne Samstag was also a member of the Programme Committee, Dr Jan Valentini was a member of the Scientific Advisory Board.
Prof Holger Cramer is a new AZKIM partner
Prof Holger Cramer is a psychologist and took up the newly created professorship for research into complementary medicine procedures at the University Hospital of Tübingen in September 2022. This professorship is the first purely scientific professorship in the field of complementary medicine at a German state university. Prof Cramer is also Scientific Director of the Robert Bosch Centre for Integrative Medicine and Health (RBIM) at the Bosch Health Campus in Stuttgart. His scientific research focuses on the efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of traditional and naturopathic methods such as yoga, meditation and acupuncture.
29 and 30 September 2022, AZKIM retreat
On 29 and 30 September 2022, the AZKIM partners came together in Freiburg for a retreat. AZKIM takes stock and can proudly say that a lot has been achieved since its foundation. These include studies on the immunological and metabolic effects of plant-based active ingredients, vegan nutrition and acupuncture, as well as the establishment of new teaching modules for medical students and training programmes for young scientists. Two days were spent in Freiburg summarising and discussing the next steps. The task now is to build on these successes, secure what has been achieved in the long term and tackle new tasks. This meeting therefore also focussed on preparing a new funding application in order to continue AZKIM's success.
"Medicine in the Evening" interview series for reading and listening
The popular "Medicine in the Evening" series, which is jointly organised by Heidelberg University Hospital and the Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung newspaper, has set itself the task of presenting everyday medical topics in an understandable, well-founded and up-to-date way. Professor Yvonne Samstag, Head of the Molecular Immunology Section at the Institute of Immunology at Heidelberg University Hospital and spokesperson for KIG BaWü and AZKIM, will talk about topics such as which therapy options strengthen the body's own powers, how conventional and complementary medicine are coming closer together, why broccoli sprouts are not always considered a superfood and provide insights into a current study on chronic stress.
To the article in the Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung (03/08/2022) ...
8 July 2022, open day at the Baden-Württemberg Health Location Forum
On 8 July 2022, the AZKIM partners from the university hospitals in Heidelberg, Ulm and Freiburg reported on the potential of naturopathy as part of the Baden-Württemberg Health Location Forum at an open day. The work of the "KIG BaWü" forum project and the Academic Centre for Complementary and Integrative Medicine (AZKIM) was introduced with specialist lectures and laboratory tours.
27 May 2022, Lecture by Dr Jan Valentini at the 53rd TCM Congress Rothenburg
On the theme day "TCM Research" at the 53rd TCM Congress in Rothenburg, Dr Jan Valentini presented the evaluation of the Outpatient Clinic for Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine at the University Hospital of Tübingen.
18 November 2021, Symposium "Contributions of integrative medicine to the reduction of antibiotic prescriptions"
On the occasion of the "European Antibiotics Awareness Day 2021", the symposium "Contributions of Integrative Medicine to the Reduction of Antibiotic Prescriptions" organised by the "Competence Network Integrative Medicine Baden-Württemberg"(KIM) took place on 18.11.2021 as part of KIG BaWü with the participation of AZKIM partner Prof. Roman Huber (UK Freiburg).
4-7 November 2021, European Congress for Integrative Medicine ECIM
From 4-7 November 2021, the European Congress for Integrative Medicine ECIM took place as a virtual event. Dr Jan Valentini was represented with a presentation on 4 November: "Acupuncture in persons with an increased stress level - Results from a randomized controlled pilot trial". Prof. Yvonne Samstag gave a lecture on 7 November: "Piperlongumine Acts as an Immunosuppressant by Exerting Prooxidative Effects in Human Cells".
14-15 October 2021, annual event of the Forum GSBW
The third annual event of the Forum Gesundheitsstandort Baden-Württemberg took place on 14 and 15 October.
14 May 2021, Lecture by Dr Jan Valentini at the 52nd TCM Congress, Rothenburg
On the occasion of the TCM Research Theme Day, which took place as part of the 52nd TCM Congress Rothenburg o.d.T., Dr Jan Valentini presented the results of the AkuRest acupuncture study in a lecture: "Is acupuncture effective in the treatment of stress-related disorders? - Results of an RCT".
5 May 2021, lecture by Dr Petra Voiß
Dr Petra Voiß, Integrative Oncology, Evang. Kliniken Essen-Mitte (KEM) and member of the AGO Commission Mamma, gave a lecture on"Integrative Oncology and Insomnia in Breast Cancer" as part of the Interdisciplinary Training of the NCT Heidelberg.
17 March 2021, Lecture by Prof. Y. Samstag at the online event "Integrative Oncology - The holistic approach to cancer care"
The MEP (Members of the European Parliament) Interest Group on Integrative Medicine & Health hosted an online event on 17 March 2021 on the topic of "Integrative Oncology - The holistic approach to cancer care". The speakers gave insights into integrative cancer treatment and spoke about their experiences on the benefits of holistic treatments such as acupuncture, herbs and nutritional supplements.
4 February 2021, Symposium "Integrative treatment concepts for cancer patients"
On the occasion of World Cancer Day, the symposium took place as part of the project "Research and Practice Initiative: Complementary and Integrative Healthcare for Baden-Württemberg(KIG BaWü) with the participation of AZKIM partner Prof Stefanie Joos (UK Tübingen).
6 November 2020, Press release of Heidelberg University Hospital
The University Hospital publishes a press release on the launch of the research and practice initiative: Complementary and Integrative Healthcare in Baden-Württemberg (KIG BaWü).