Airway research has been a focus at Fraunhofer ITEM ever since the institute was founded. One emphasis has been on protecting health from potentially harmful, in particular airborne substances – be they gases, aerosols, particles, fibers, or nanomaterials – and another one on investigating and developing diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, both at the preclinical and clinical levels. To characterize the exposure to airborne substances, Fraunhofer ITEM researchers implement novel nebulizers and test beds and further develop already established technologies such as the P.R.I.T.® in-vitro exposure system, for example for the characterization of materials such as nanocarriers that may be used as drug delivery systems in the long term.