The Research Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance is an institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA). IPA's research work aims at the reduction of health risks of insured persons due to various hazardous substances. The goal is to develop preventive measures as well as to improve diagnosis and therapy of occupational diseases and to support the German Social Accident Insurance. Five closely linked IPA centers conduct interdisciplinary research projects in the fields of Medicine, Epidemiology, Allergology/Immunology, Toxicology and Molecular Medicine.