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No 8/2025 | OctoBer Issue
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Dear Reader,
The groundbreaking of the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies (BC GCT) marks a new chapter in Berlin’s development of cutting-edge medicine. A joint project of Charité, Bayer and the BIH, and funded by the German government and the State of Berlin, the BC GCT will accelerate the translation of gene and cell therapies from the laboratory to the clinic and turn them into viable treatment options. A key element of the initiative is a new collaboration between ProBioGen and the BIH. Together, they are building a state-of-the-art GMP production facility to manufacture clinical-grade materials for advanced therapies. The BC GCT is set to become a hub for biomedical translation in Berlin, focused on turning research into health.
We are pleased to share the BIH’s latest developments and research achievements with you in this newsletter.
Best wishes,
Your BIH Newsletter Team
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Every organism’s genome contains mutations that often have unknown biological effects. In partnership with Stanford University (USA), researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have now discovered a way to predict the effects of numerous mutations in yeast. Key to this discovery was a detailed analysis of the proteome – the collection of all proteins inside a cell. The research team believe this new method to be a valuable tool for better understanding molecular mechanisms, for example, in the context of microorganisms’ increasing resistance to medicinal agents. The study has been published in the Science journal. Dr. Johannes Hartl, head of the BIH research group "Systems Biology and Systems Medicine of Metabolism", is one of the lead authors of the study. Read the press release of CharitéRead the publication
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A person's metabolism is as unique as their fingerprint, and so is their risk of developing certain diseases. A better understanding of the genetic influences on metabolism could open up new therapeutic options. Researchers at the BIH and Queen Mary University of London have now created the largest genetic map of human metabolism to date and investigated the effects of our genetic code on blood values such as cholesterol and amino acids. The researchers have published their findings in Nature Genetics. Read the press releaseRead the publication
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The BIH is coordinating the central European research project "EU-CiP" (European Cancer Information Portal). This project is funded with 12 million euros over four years by the European Union's Horizon Europe program. For the first time, it establishes a European network of patient-centered, trustworthy, and evidence-based cancer information portals. EU-CiP is a key component of the European Cancer Patient Digital Centre (ECPDC), developed under the Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Mission on Cancer. Professor Roland Eils, founding director of the Center for Digital Health at the BIH, is scientific leader and coordinator of the project. Read the press releaseLearn more about EU-CiP
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With a ceremonial groundbreaking on September 16, 2025, construction began on the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies (BC GCT) – a joint project by Charité, Bayer, and the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH), funded by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space (BMFTR) and the State of Berlin. The aim is to accelerate the transfer of gene and cell therapies from research into clinical application. By 2028, a ten-story new building with around 20,000 m² of space will rise at Berlin Nordhafen, including an incubator for 15–20 start-ups as well as a GMP-certified production facility. The Bayer Co.Lab Berlin will be part of the ecosystem. With the BC GCT, a hotspot for translation and biotechnology is being created – a strong signal for Berlin as a hub of innovation.
Read the press release of Bayer
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The BIH and ProBioGen announced a strategic partnership at the groundbreaking ceremony for the BC GCT on September 16, 2025. Central to the project is a 4,600 m² GMP-compliant facility for Advanced Therapy Medicinal Products, designed and operated by ProBioGen. Funded by €76.5 million from the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space over ten years, the project aims to accelerate the development of innovative therapies. Read the press release
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Researchers from the BIH Charité Clinician Scientist Program – Dr. Michael Kaminski, Dr. Verena Klämbt, and Dr. Matteus Krappitz – together with an international team, have successfully corrected gene mutations that cause autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) using the CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing tool. The approach was first tested in cell cultures and then in mice. The results, published in Molecular Therapy, show that the base-editing method can restore the missing protein and significantly reduce liver cysts—a promising success and a step toward a causal treatment for this serious disease. Currently, only one approved drug is available, which alleviates symptoms and can cause severe side effects.
Read the press release of the Max Delbrück Center
Read the publication
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The BIH bids farewell to Prof. Dr. Ulrich Dirnagl, honoring him as a central driving force for trustworthy and useful research upon his retirement. The internationally recognized stroke researcher and advocate of responsible science has shaped the biomedical profile of Charité and the BIH for more than three decades. His motto “To infinity, and beyond” aptly captures the foresight, creativity, and persistence with which he has advanced science.
Read more
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The BIH is strengthening its expertise in translational research with two new W2 professorships: Dr. Sven Geißler has been appointed Professor of “Biological Foundations of Musculoskeletal Regeneration,” and Dr. Daniel Ibrahim has been appointed Professor of “Regulatory Genomics.” Both researchers represent cutting-edge approaches to understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying health and disease with the aim of enabling personalized therapeutic options. Read more
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The BIH is pleased to welcome Professor Katy Börner as a new Visiting Fellow. The internationally renowned scientist has been working at the BIH since June 2025 for a period of three years as part of the “Visiting Fellow” program funded by the Charité Foundation. Her project, “Multiscale Human Reference Atlas – An Ontological Bridge Between Anatomy and Disease,” aims to interlink the detailed anatomical mapping of the Human Reference Atlas (HRA) with the Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO), which describes disease phenotypes and is led by BIH Professor Peter Robinson. Read the interviewHuman Reference Atlas webpage
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Digitalisation can fundamentally change healthcare: faster processes, better data availability and more time for patients. But despite the technical possibilities, there are obstacles that slow down progress. How can digitalisation be designed in such a way that it does not remain a technological toy, but brings real improvements to the everyday lives of doctors and patients? And what lessons can be learned from international role models in order to successfully drive forward digital change in Germany? Prof. Sylvia Thun, Director of Digital Medicine and Interoperability at the BIH, provides answers in this interview.
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News From the Network Office GCT Germany
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Two Years of Network Office GCT Germany
The Network Office GCT Germany celebrates its second anniversary and looks back on remarkable achievements. With GeneNovate, Germany’s first national entrepreneurship program in gene and cell therapy, 180 participants across six locations have been supported by 51 speakers and more than 30 mentors. The GCT-Atlas continues to grow, now featuring five maps and 285 entries from across the country to foster information sharing and collaboration. In Patient & Stakeholder Engagement (PSE), nine patient representatives actively contribute to the National GCT Strategy and PSE has become an established funding criterion. With over 1,000 LinkedIn followers, a dedicated strategy website, and nine newsletter issues reaching 1,300 readers, the Network Office continues to strengthen visibility of our stakeholders. After two years of progress and partnership, the team looks ahead with motivation and momentum.
Learn more about the Network Office (in German)
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News From the BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA)
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Professor Katarina Braune, alumna of the BIH Charité Digital Clinician Scientist Program and former spokesperson for the BIH Charité Junior and Digital Clinician Scientist Program, took up the W3 professorship “Digital Health – Non-Communicable Diseases” at the Hasso-Plattner-Institute (HPI) on October 1, 2025. Prof. Braune is a pediatrician, diabetologist, and board-certified medical informatician. In her work, she combines medical, technological, and social perspectives to develop digital solutions for chronic, non-communicable diseases – in particular diabetes mellitus. Prof. Braune remains associated with the Institute of Medical Informatics at Charité and is member of the Digital Clinician Scientist Board. We warmly congratulate and look forward to continuing the collaboration!
Read the news of the HPI
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Award For CSP Alumnus
Dr. Carl Christoph Goetzke, alumnus of the BIH Charité Clinician Scientist Program (CSP) from the Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology and Critical Care Medicine was awarded the 2025 Adalbert Czerny Prize by the German Society of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Kinder- und Jugendmedizin - DGKJ) at the Congress for Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine. The prize is endowed with 10.000 Euro and a medal of Adalbert Czerny, and recognizes outstanding scientific achievements in the field of pediatrics and adolescent medicine, including related fields. Congratulations! Read more (in German)
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PD Dr. Michael S. Balzer, Fellow of the BIH Charité Clinician Scientist Program (CSP) and research group leader at the Department of Nephrology und Medical Intensive Care, has been awarded a prestigious Starting Grant by the European Research Council (ERC). His pioneering project investigates the adaptive capacity of the kidney, aiming to uncover molecular mechanisms that enable renal resilience and repair. Over the next five years, PD Dr. Balzer will receive approximately €1.5 million from the ERC to establish his own research team. Congratulations to this great success! Read the press release of Charité
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The national Translational Tandem Program for Gene- and Cell-Based Therapies (nTTP-GCT) supports Junior Clinician Scientists and Translational Scientists in the field of gene and cell therapy by providing them with protected research time and financial support for project-related travel and consumables. Another important component of the funding program is the specific offer of training and education opportunities for program participants. The BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA) is now developing customized training offers for the pilot cohort of nine tandems. About the training opportunities
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Around 400 BIH members gathered on October 9 for the Scientific Symposium “Translation at Its CORE.” Talks, panels, and poster sessions showcased the diversity of translational research at the BIH – and how collaboration continues to strengthen the BIH community. Many thanks to everyone involved!
Read more and see the picture galery
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This fall, SPARK-BIH marked its 10th anniversary with a series of events in Berlin – the SPARK Global Meeting, the 10th Anniversary Celebration, and the Venture Capital Day – showcasing a decade of commitment to advancing translational research and patient benefit through collaboration and innovation.
Read more and see the picture galery
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Over 130 participants gathered from 22 to 24 September in Berlin for RRiA Unconference 2025, a three-day event driving transformation in research culture, organized by the BIH QUEST Center and partners. With inspiring talks, hands-on projects, and vibrant networking, participants united to rethink and improve how science is done and shared worldwide.
Read more
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All BIH events are noted in our event calender. If you would like to receive a regular overview of upcoming BIH Events, please register here. Many thanks.
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Germany’s nationwide entrepreneurship program for gene and cell therapies, biotech and medicine is entering its third round and Berlin is part of it again! Young scientists and medical professionals can apply now. Participation is free, spots are limited! Application deadline is November 9, 2025. Read more
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Do you want your research to make an impact beyond your own discipline? If you’ve got an idea of how you could improve your communications and reach a wider and more diverse audience, why not develop and test it out together with a media professional? Apply now for the science x media tandem program. With this programm Stiftung Charité aims to promote the social openness of the life sciences. Successful tandem projects can receive funding of up to €15,000 per month for a period of two to nine months. Expression of interest without a confirmed media partner can be submitted until November 7, 2025. The deadline for submitting a full application in collaboration with your media partner is January 30, 2026. Read more
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You can apply for the Max Rubner Award 2026 until October 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. The Max Rubner Award, endowed with a total of 100,000 EUR, supports the implementation of innovative ideas at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. All professional groups as well as students at Charité are eligible to apply. Read more
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This year's focus is on water and water management. The Stiftung Industrieforschung invites young researchers to present their original and practical findings and ideas that have emerged from their innovative basic research. Prizes worth a total of €42,000 will be awarded. The deadline for submissions is October 26, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Read more
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Hochschulwettbewerb 2026
The university competition "Hochschulwettbewerb im Wissenschaftsjahr 2026 – Medizin der Zukunft" is looking for communication ideas that bring research to life and actively involve citizens in order to spark conversation about the medicine of tomorrow. Interdisciplinary approaches are expressly welcome. The ten best ideas will each be rewarded with €10,000 for implementation. Interested parties can submit their applications until November 30, 2025. Read more (in German)
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