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Dear Reader,
How do scientific discoveries become medical advances? This question lies at the heart of our current issue. With the opening of the Charité BIH ARC Innovation Center and the laying of the cornerstone for the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies (BC GCT), vital infrastructure is being established to speed up the development of new scientific methods and bridge the gap between the lab and the clinic. Current work by BIH scientists shows how fundamental research and application are intertwined: New insights into blood stem cell diversity could pave the way for long-term improvements in stem cell therapies, while another recent study offers promising new targets for treating cystic fibrosis. We also spotlight the KOMPART project, which empowers patients to actively participate in research, and CLUES, an open-source framework designed to better integrate environmental and health data. Finally, we look back at the highlights from the GeneNovate Investors’ Day and the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) program at the Long Night of the Sciences.
We wish you an engaging read!
Your BIH Newsletter Team
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Different types of bone marrow stem cells give rise to blood and immune cells. A team led by Simon Haas, whose lab is part of the joint research focus “Single-cell approaches for personalized medicine” of the BIH, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and the Max Delbrück Center, now reports in Nature Cell Biology how that diversity develops. The findings could help improve stem cell therapies, including treatments for blood cancers. Read the press release
Read the publication
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The ceremonial laying of the cornerstone at Berlin’s Nordhafen on June 3, 2026, marked another milestone in the development of infrastructure for gene and cell therapies. The Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies (BCGCT) will provide laboratory and workspace as well as GMP production capacity for the manufacture of gene and cell therapies, thereby creating the essential conditions for the development of novel therapies. It is intended to help support promising scientific approaches on their path to clinical development by giving startups access to the infrastructure and environment necessary for the further development of innovative therapeutic approaches. To the project developer's press release
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On June 2, 2026, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the BIH officially opened the Charité BIH ARC Innovation Center. ARC stands for Accelerate, Redesign, Collaborate. The idea behind the ARC Innovation Center is based on a concept developed at Sheba Medical Center in Israel, which has since been adopted by hospitals around the world. The center brings together medical expertise, scientific research, and technological development under one roof, shortening the path from concept to clinical practice. Read more and view the photo gallery
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With Professor Jonathan Kimmelman, the BIH is gaining one of the world’s leading experts in Bioethics. His planned appointment to a Humboldt Professorship for Ethics, Policy, and Meta-Research at the BIH QUEST Center for Responsible Research will further enhance BIH’s global visibility as a center for transparent, ethically grounded, and scientifically excellent biomedical research. The Humboldt Professorship is Germany’s most highly endowed research award, with funding of up to €10 million. It is awarded by the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and funded by the Federal Ministry for Research, Technology and Space. Read the press release
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Aurélie Philippe Appointed as BIH's Local Doctoral Officer
Dr. Aurélie Philippe, program coordinator in BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA) is the BIH’s new doctoral officer. In this function she serves as the point of contact for doctoral candidates and doctoral supervisors at the BIH. She provides support for questions about the doctorate, both within and outside Charité. She also acts as a liaison between the BIH and Charité’s administration, particularly with the Charité Graduate School, the Doctoral Office, and the Charité Doctoral Commission. Read more (only for internal employees)
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News From the Core Unit Proteomic
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© Adobe Stock | The 2R Artificality
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A combination of three drugs appears to more effectively treat people with cystic fibrosis than therapy with only two. This was discovered by BIH researchers, including Dr. Philipp Mertins, head of the BIH Core Unit for Proteomics, who examined changes in the proteome in the blood and lungs of patients. The researchers have now published their findings in Cell Systems. Read more
Read the publication
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News From the BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy
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© Melitta Schubert | Universitätsmedizin Magdeburg
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PD Dr. med. Lynn Jeanette Savic, an alumna of the BIH Charité Junior and Clinician Scientist Program, assumed the W2 professorship in Interventional Radiology with a focus on multimodal interventions at Magdeburg University Hospital on June 1, 2026. The radiologist and habilitated scientist conducts research on innovative image-based, immunological, and molecular biomarkers for personalized tumor therapy. Following her tenure at Charité, she will now further expand the field of interventional radiology in Magdeburg and will remain affiliated with Charité as a subproject leader. Congratulations! Read more
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ACCESS – Educational Innovation Program Launched
Within the framework of the Charité BIH ARC Innovation Centre, the BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA) is dedicated to promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. In collaboration with Charité’s Human Resources and Organizational Development department, the educational program ACCESS (Accelerating Clinical Change through Enabling Solutions and Spin-offs) was developed for this purpose. The program supports Charité and BIH employees from all professional groups in the (further) development of innovative ideas. Applications can be submitted via the BIH portal until July 15, 2026. Learn more about ACCESS (in German only)
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In March 2026, the interview week took place as part of the selection process for the BIH PhD Program (third cohort). Ten of 18 project proposals were shortlisted in the fall of 2025 and subsequently opened for applications from PhD candidates. Of the 151 applications received, six candidates (four women and two men) were selected for funding. A warm welcome to all new fellows! Learn more about the BIH PhD Programm
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News From the BIH QUEST Center
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Active patient involvement in clinical research is increasingly recognized as essential, yet suitable training programs remain scarce in German-speaking countries. The BMFTR-funded KOMPART project addresses this gap through a participatory, modular online training program designed to prepare patients and patient representatives for active and equal involvement in academic research. The project is based at the BIH QUEST Center. Go to the KOMPART project page
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Dr. Garima Bhardwaj leads the Clinical Incubator (CLIC) at the BIH. The incubator aims to translate sound scientific findings into companies and clinical solutions that ultimately benefit patients. In the interview series “Charité International Portraits: 3 Questions for...,” she describes her experiences working on an internationally oriented project and explains how she perceives cultural differences. Read the interviewMore about CLIC
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Claims data are important for research on drug safety but contain sensitive patient information. To make them usable for research, data can be anonymized or synthetically generated. Both approaches are widely discussed, but have rarely been directly compared in a realistic setting. A research team from the group of Fabian Prasser at the BIH, together with partners from the Health Data Lab (Forschungsdatenzentrum Gesundheit), the Institute for Applied Health Research Berlin (InGef), and MOSTLY AI, directly compared both approaches in a real-world medical research setting. In the interview, first author Mehmed Halilovic explains the key findings. Read the interview
Read the publication
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Environmental factors such as climate, water and air quality can affect both our physical and mental health. Until now, however, environmental and health datasets have been fragmented and difficult to combine in order to examine their overlap. CLUES now makes this possible. We spoke with Dr. Marcel Jentsch, Dr. Elli Polemiti, and Dr. Sven Twardziok from the research group Digital Health about their project. Read more
Read the publication
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The GeneNovate Investors’ Day at Futurium Berlin on June 9, 2026, highlighted the immense potential of advanced therapies, bringing together global science, investors, and industry alongside 20 international startup pitches. Find impressions of the day and read in the interview (German only) with Dorothee Bär how vital this topic is for the German Federal Government. ImpressionsInterview with Dorothee Bär (in German only)
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© BIH | Dr. Sophie G. Elschner
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Whether through laboratory tours, workshops or science slams, visitors to the Long Night of Science on June 6, 2026, were able to gain a deeper grasp of health data, biobanking, single-cell research, stem cells and the health of cows in the barn. At the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin’s Mitte campus, the Buch campus and the Max Delbrück Center – Berlin Institute for Systems Biology (MDC-BIMSB), they were offered fascinating insights into the medical research conducted by the BIH. Read more and view the photo gallery
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Leading researchers and experts from clinical practice and industry gathered in Frankfurt am Main on May 18 and 19, 2026, to share their knowledge on modern gene and cell therapies. The conference focused on recent advances, current challenges, and the question of how innovative therapies can reach patients more quickly. The event was organized by ForTra gGmbH for Research Transfer at the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (ForTra) and SPARK-BIH as part of the National Strategy for Gene and Cell-Based Therapies. Read the press release
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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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Left: © Charité | Christoph Weber; Right: © privat
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In the latest issue of “Med: Cell Press,” a behind-the-scenes feature highlights the work of Dr. Jana Ihlow (fellow of the BIH Charité Clinician Scientist Program) and Dr. Samantha Praktiknjo (BIH): navigating the daily routine of clinical practice, intense time pressure, and concern for a critically ill patient with myelodysplastic syndrome, a situation that required both rapid and objective decision-making. What began as an unresolved diagnostic problem at the bedside evolved into a translational project in which the interdisciplinary team developed a tailored single-cell solution that, in turn, enabled the patient to receive targeted therapy. The story illustrates where standard diagnostics reach their limits - and at the same time, that precision medicine and research-based procedures often have their origins in the individual fates of patients, from which new approaches to medical care are developed. Read the backstory
Read the interview with Samantha Praktiknjo
Read the publication
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© https://dha.bihealth.org/#home
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This year's call for applications of the BIH Digital Health Accelerator program is live. The structured program supports Charité/BIH employees who develop digital health solutions for medical application and the healthcare market. Application deadline is June 19, 2026. Read more
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Protected time for experienced and clinically active senior physicians to pursue practice-oriented projects in continuing education, clinical observerships, or the transfer of clinical knowledge. New in this call for applications: for the first time, the program is also open to experienced board-certified specialists as part of a pilot approach. Deadline is July 1, 2026, 1:00 PM. Read more
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© Stiftung Charité, Andreas Süß
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© JJ Ying (Unsplash), edited with ChatGPT
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BIH and Charité scientists and clinicians at all career levels are invited to submit translational project applications. You can find more information on selection criteria, submission and selection process on the website of SPARK-BIH. Submission Deadline is Monday, July 6, 2026, 2:00 PM (CEST).
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The 19th Eva Luise Köhler Research Award for Rare Diseases will be awarded in Berlin on April 23, 2027. Applications can be submitted until July 12, 2026 at midnight. The prize is endowed with €50,000 and is open to researchers at all career stages, recognizing innovative, scientifically outstanding projects in both basic and translational research on rare diseases. Read more
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