Hiss: Legal Perspectives on Medical Research — Regulatory Challenges, Data Privacy, and Future Opportunities
June 23 – July 2, 2026, UNIVERSITY OF HAMBURG, FACULTY OF LAW
HAMBURG INTERNATIONAL SUMMER SCHOOL (HISS) ON "LEGAL PERSPECTIVES ON MEDICAL RESEARCH — REGULATORY CHALLENGES, DATE PRIVACY, AND FUTURE OPPORTUNITIES"
Introduction
The rapid progress in medical research, together with the increasing reliance on digital technologies in healthcare, is accompanied by profound legal, ethical, and data protection challenges. In response to these developments, the Faculty of Law at the University of Hamburg hosts a two-week international summer school in June and July 2026 under the title “Legal Perspectives on Medical Research — Regulatory Challenges, Data Privacy, and Future Opportunities.”
The program seeks to provide German and international law students with an in-depth engagement with current and future legal frameworks governing medical research. Special attention will be devoted to the regulation of clinical trials and biomedical innovation, the legal mechanisms that safeguard sensitive health data, and the adaptation of data protection law to new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, and big data applications.
The significance of this topic extends far beyond academic debate. At the intersection of scientific progress, patient rights, and societal responsibility arise questions that have immediate consequences for public trust in healthcare institutions and for the legitimacy of research practices. Students will be encouraged to explore international and European legal standards, ethical considerations in handling research data, and the challenge of promoting medical innovation while protecting individual rights. The summer school is therefore not only an academic training ground but also a forum for developing future-oriented approaches to regulation. It offers students the opportunity to broaden their legal knowledge, to deepen their ethical reflection, and to contribute their own ideas on how to shape sustainable and equitable frameworks for medical research in the digital age.
Program
The summer school is conceived as a transformative academic experience that moves beyond conventional teaching formats. Students are expected to prepare in advance by working in groups on a scientific poster that addresses a specific aspect of the overall theme.
Each team of approximately four students will engage critically with a selected issue relating to the regulation of medical research, the governance of health data, or the challenges of technological innovation in the medical field. The poster work requires the incorporation of legal, ethical, and international perspectives as well as the consideration of the views of different stakeholders. The poster project ensures that students are actively involved in the learning process from the outset and are encouraged to collaborate in addressing complex legal and ethical questions.
The final presentation of the posters during the program allows participants to share their perspectives with peers and faculty, to engage in open discussions, and to stimulate a culture of dialogue and constructive critique. The international dimension of the summer school will be reinforced through the participation of the National Taiwan University (NTU) and Kyoto University (Kyoto U). Taiwan contributes valuable insights through its advanced data protection regime in the health sector, while Japan offers a perspective on bioethical challenges in medical research.
The program is structured around three main thematic clusters:
- The first addresses the regulatory frameworks of medical research. It explores comparative perspectives on clinical research law, oversight structures in (university) hospitals, and the legal questions surrounding biobanks, genetic data, and the ownership and control of biological material.
- The second focuses on data protection and ethical dimensions. Here students examine the challenges of applying European data protection law in medical practice, the ethical and cultural tensions inherent in informed consent, and the ongoing struggle to balance research opportunities with the protection of patient privacy.
- The third cluster turns toward the digital transformation and its future challenges. Lectures and discussions will address the potential and risks of artificial intelligence and robotics in healthcare, the application of AI in diagnostics e.g. in oncology, and the question of how to design legal frameworks that are responsive to rapidly developing technologies.
The Faculty of Law cooperates closely with the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), including the Center for Biomedical AI (bAIOme) and the House of Computing and Data Science (HCDS). This cooperation ensures that students encounter not only theoretical perspectives but also practical insights from ongoing medical research and clinical applications.
The summer school combines lectures, workshops, poster presentations, and cultural activities. Academic contributions will be provided by leading scholars from UHH, NTU and Kyoto U, as well as by invited practitioners from law firms, hospitals, and research centers. The schedule also includes on-site visits to the UKE with guided tours of operating theaters, a series of lectures on medical informatics, informed consent, biobanks, and governance structures in hospitals, and discussions with practitioners.
Social and cultural elements form an integral part of the program, ranging from a Hamburg scavenger hunt and guided tours of the campus to a boat tour of the harbor and a farewell canoe tour on the Alster. The program concludes with the poster presentations by the students, a feedback session, and an outlook on further academic opportunities at the University of Hamburg.
Objectives and Outcomes
The summer school pursues multiple objectives: Academically, it equips students with advanced knowledge of health law, data governance, and medical ethics. It enables them to critically reflect on different regulatory models and to analyze their implications for innovation and patient protection. On a skills level, students gain valuable intercultural competencies, experience in collaborative research, and the ability to present and discuss their findings in an academic setting. On a societal level, the program raises awareness of the responsibilities that law and ethics bear in shaping the digital transformation of medicine and the future of healthcare.
The intercultural dimension is particularly important. Students learn from each other’s legal cultures and academic traditions and acquire insights that go beyond national perspectives. Such experiences are indispensable for developing the capacity to work responsibly in international and interdisciplinary contexts.
Organization
The academic responsibility lies with Professor Dr. Kai Cornelius of the Faculty of Law at the University of Hamburg, who will be supported by Professors from Kyoto University and National Taiwan University. The International Office at the Faculty of Law at the University of Hamburg is responsible for all administrative and organizational matters.
Application
Application Deadline is 15 February 2026. Please send your application to international-office-law"AT"uni-hamburg.de.
The application process requires the submission of a motivation letter, a short research proposal, a curriculum vitae, and a transcript of academic achievements, all in English. Selected candidates will be invited to a short online interview to assess their legal pre-knowledge and language skills. At least one third but not more than half of the participants will be students from Hamburg, thereby ensuring both local involvement and an international balance of perspectives.
Costs
Program-fees are 550 EUR per Person. We offer a fee-waiver for a limited number of students. The students will be picked by their academic excellence, social engagement and financial background. Students from our partner universities NTU and Kyoto U will be prioritized. We are not able to cover travel- or accommodation costs. Travel to and accommodation in Hamburg is self-organized by the participants.
Apply now!
The summer school offers a unique platform for academic exchange on some of the most pressing global issues at the crossroads of law, medicine, and digital innovation. It combines academic training with intercultural dialogue, practical insights, and cultural exchange.
By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and by strengthening international partnerships, the program contributes to the international profile of its participants!