In the field of the history of medicine, the Institute takes a historical look at the cultural and social issues that are relevant to medicine.

This includes, for example, the problem of the limits of what is medically and technically feasible and the handling of norm and deviation in scientific discourse and medical practice in a historical perspective. In all these questions, the perspective of the history of psychiatry is of particular importance.

Within the framework of research in the history of medicine, the Institute cooperates with other German and international universities. In this way, central documents on Nazi medical crimes, which are scattered in various archives, clinics, universities and collections, are to be located and, in particular, the victims of the so-called "euthanasia" in the "Third Reich" are to be preserved from oblivion.