Trained as a psychologist, PhD in Human Biology (University Munich) and Philosophy (Dept. Psychology, University Koblenz-Landau).
Holding various positions as research assistant since 1979, he worked as an academic researcher at Division of Medical Psychology, Psychiatric University hospital Erlangen from 1986 to 1990. He was Chief bio-statistician at a private Contract Research Institute from 1990 to 1994.
Since 1994 he is working as an academic researcher at the Competence Centre for Complementary Medicine and Naturopathy (leader: Prof Dr D Melchart), University hospital 'Klinikum rechts der Isar', TU Munich.
Besides acupuncture research he has been involved in various CAM topics at the borderline of medicine and psychology.
From 2010 to 2012 he coordinated the FP7 funded project CAMbrella. He is member of various scientific societies, of the Scientific Advisory Board of TCM Hospital Bad Kötzting, of the Steering group of the European chapter within ISCMR; Approx. 150 scientific papers and articles since 1980.