Ethik & Datenschutz

Our Topics

Ethics and Data Protection

In nationwide collaborative medical research, a coherent data protection concept is often a challenge: Researchers are usually faced with the question of how data and samples can be analyzed across countries in compliance with data protection regulations, which legal framework is relevant, and how to comply with the demands and expectations of various data protection supervisory authorities. The TMF has been committed to ethics and data protection in medical research for over 20 years.

Dr. Johannes Drepper

Many collaborative research projects have successfully developed their data protection concept with the support of the TMF.

Dr. Johannes Drepper, TMF e. V.

Research consortia and institutions are supported in the development of data protection concepts; expert opinions are prepared and guidelines for researchers are developed. The basis for the consultation is the set of generic solution approaches for data protection concepts developed by the Data Protection Working Group, which were most recently recommended by the Data Protection Conference for use in medical research. Concrete solutions can be derived from these concepts and implemented in individual projects and infrastructures.

TMF Workgroup Data Protection

The TMF Data Protection Workgroup advises research associations and projects on data protection issues, particularly the creation of data protection concepts. The basis for this is, therefore, the generic solution approaches for data protection concepts developed by the workgroup, which are in tune with the federal and state data protection officers.

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TMF Workgroup Data Quality and Transparency

The TMF Workgroup Data Quality and Transparency, in cooperation with other national and international societies and networks, aims to further develop recommendations, standards, and tools for quality assurance and data assessment.

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TMF Annual Meeting

TMF Annual Meeting

The TMF’s Annual Meeting is a nationwide forum for exchanging views on current cross-cutting topics in collaborative medical research. The event is aimed at experts from science and research as well as representatives of patient organizations, professional associations, research funding bodies, public authorities, and industry.

TMF Annual Meeting 2026

Projects on the Topic [German only]

The TMF is a coordinating body for strategically relevant collaborative research projects at national and international levels. It is also involved in many small and large research projects as a specialized partner with a high level of expertise, particularly in legal, data protection, and ethical issues. In addition, it is involved in the development of concepts and project ideas for ministries and scientific institutions - regionally, nationally, and internationally.

TMF-Projekt

Die generischen Datenschutzkonzepte der TMF haben die Diskussion zum Datenschutz in der medizinischen Forschung in Deutschland gefördert und in einer Vielzahl von Projekten Verwendung gefunden. Die besondere Attraktivität der generischen Konzepte der TMF begründet sich u. a. in der Abstimmung mit allen zuständigen Aufsichtsbehörden. Dies führte zu einer maximal möglichen Rechtssicherheit für Forscherinnen und Forscher, die sich weitgehend an den Prinzipien der TMF-Konzepte orientierten.

Drittmittelprojekt

TEHDAS2 ist eine Joint Action des EU4Health-Programms im Rahmen einer direkten Zuwendung an die Mitgliedsstaaten für vorbereitende Aktivitäten zur Sekundärnutzung von Daten im Europäischen Gesundheitsdatenraum (EHDS). Es sollen Leitlinien und technischen Spezifikationen für Datenhalter, Datennutzer und Gesundheitsdaten-Zugangsstellen erstellt werden, um so die Voraussetzungen für die Durchführung gemeinsamer Maßnahmen zur Sekundär­datennutzung im EHDS zu schaffen.

Statements on the Topic [German only]

Products on the Topic [German only]

The TMF provides expert opinions, generic concepts, guidelines, and IT applications for medical research and offers training and consulting services through its workgroups. TMF products are publicly available and free of charge.

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