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Dear Reader,
In late September, we reached a major milestone in diagnostics with the launch of the BIH Spatial Diagnostics Platform. By combining high-resolution 3D histology, molecular analysis, and AI-driven data evaluation, the platform aims to provide faster, more precise insights into complex diseases, paving the way for new advances in personalized medicine. This collaborative initiative brings together expertise from academia, industry, clinical practice, and start-ups. Find out more in this issue.
Artificial intelligence is also playing an increasingly important role in the BIH’s research. We introduce Benjamin Wild’s new research group, which is developing AI methods for medicine and the biomedical life sciences. We also highlight an international award presented to Kirsten Kübler and her team for their research into the development of a rare form of ovarian cancer. Other highlights include funding for a study on liver transplantation in patients with colorectal cancer metastases and the success story of Recovery Cat, an impressive example of technology transfer in action. With support from the BIH Digital Health Accelerator, the company pioneered a hybrid model of psychiatric care in Germany. Following its acquisition by Resilience Care, existing partnerships are now gradually being transferred to the Resilience Care platform.
Happy reading!
Your BIH Newsletter Team
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On September 25, 2026, the BIH launched a groundbreaking analytical platform that combines high-resolution 3D light microscopy, molecular genomic and proteomic analysis, and AI-driven evaluation. Developed in partnership with Roche Diagnostics, RoX Health, ZEISS, Bruker Daltonics, Hamilton Germany, and LIMAA Technologies, the platform has the potential to set a new benchmark for personalized diagnostics and treatment recommendations, providing rapid, high-precision insights for patients. Its key areas of applications include cancer, complex inflammatory conditions, and genetic rare diseases. Read the press release
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© Sibylle Pichot, Resilience Care SAS
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Resilience Care, a leading player in multi-pathology remote monitoring, today announced the acquisition of Recovery Cat, a Germany-based digital health company specializing in psychiatric care. The company aims to accelerate its expansion across Europe to provide personalized, continuous, and proactive clinical follow-up for a greater number of patients. Supported by the German Prototype Fund and the BIH Digital Health Accelerator, the company pioneered a hybrid psychiatric care pathway in Germany. Read the partner press release
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In July 2026, Dr. Benjamin Wild took over as head of the new research group “AI in Healthcare and Life Sciences” at the BIH. He has been conducting research since 2021 at the BIH Center of Digital Health, which is led by Prof. Dr. Roland Eils. Benjamin Wild develops artificial intelligence methods for medicine and the biomedical life sciences. His work focuses on AI-based risk stratification, multimodal learning, and foundation models. We spoke with Dr. Wild about his research and his goals. Read the interview
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New Roles for Sophie Van Linthout
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A research team led by BIH Professor Kirsten Kübler has received the Rhonda’s Award 2027 from the Mucinous Ovarian Cancer Coalition, worth $100,000, for its project investigating the origins of mucinous ovarian cancer. The researchers are studying which cells this rare form of ovarian cancer develops from and which early changes influence tumor development. Their goal is to identify biomarkers that could, in the future, help better assess an individual’s risk of developing the disease and contribute to the development of more targeted treatment approaches. Congratulations! We spoke with Kirsten Kübler about the significance of the award, the objectives of her research project, and the next steps. Read the interview
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Professor Johanna Bolander and her research group "Model Systems for Regenerative Therapies" received the EORS-AESCULAP Award “Translational Research towards Clinical Applications & Digital Surgery” at the 2026 Annual Meeting of the European Orthopaedic Research Society (EORS), held in Madrid, September 22-24, 2026. The award recognizes translational research that bridges scientific discovery and clinical application, advancing innovation in orthopaedics and surgery. This recognition highlights the importance of connecting fundamental research with clinically relevant approaches to improve tissue regeneration and patient care. Congratulations!
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Graphic: TSP | Foto: Markus Stegner – Businessfotografie
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Julia Polánsky-Biskup Named One of the “100 Leading Figures in Berlin Science 2026”
Professor Julia Polansky, head of the BIH research group “Immuno-Epigenetics,” has been named one of the “100 Leading Figures in Berlin Science 2026” by the publisher Der Tagesspiegel. Her research focuses on making personalized cell therapies simpler and more affordable. This involves reprogramming the body’s own cells so that they can specifically target cancer. In the future, such approaches could also help treat autoimmune diseases and support recovery after transplants. Julia Polánsky-Biskup has already received several awards from the European Research Council (ERC) for her research. We are delighted by this recognition and offer our heartfelt congratulations!
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News From the BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA)
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Copyright @ MFT / Dirk Michael Deckbar
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Results of the ECLiPSE Study Presented
Together with the German Association of Medical Faculties (MFT), the BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA) advocates for strategic and policy issues related to the promotion of Clinician Scientists. As part of the ECLiPSE project (“ECLiPSE – Establishment of Clinician Scientist Programs at Medical Faculties: Status and Expectations”), data on CSP fellows and alumni was collected nationwide in Germany via an online survey for the first time. The study was funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation (EKFS) and conducted as part of a collaboration between the BIA and the MFT. On September 30, 2026, the key findings were presented and discussed at the symposium “Clinician Scientists – Current Status and Future Prospects.” The ECLiPSE data form the basis for the development of a National Clinician Scientist Cohort (NCSK). Read more about the symposium (in German only)
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Professor Nathanael Raschzok, Fellow of the BIH Charité Advanced Clinician Scientist Pilot Program and alumnus of the Clinician Scientist Program, and his research group at the Department of Surgery have received funding from German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe) for the multicenter GTO-001 trial. It aims to give patients with unresectable colorectal liver metastases in Germany access to liver transplantation. Read more
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First Cohort of ACCESS Launched
On September 18, 2026, the kickoff ceremony for the first cohort of the new educational innovation program ACCESS (“Accelerating Clinical Change through Enabling Solutions and Spin-offs”) took place. Developed jointly by the BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA) and the Business Division Human Resources and Organizational Development at Charité, this training program is aimed at employees from clinical, research, and administrative departments who wish to identify opportunities for innovation, further develop their own ideas, or acquire fundamental innovation skills. Over the next ten weeks, 29 participants will learn theoretical and methodological fundamentals of the innovation process through five modules, supplemented by mentoring and practical networking opportunities. Read more (in German only)
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News From the BIH ARC Innovation Center (CBAIC)
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The Co-Innovation Programme with Enterprise Singapore, coordinated by the Charité BIH ARC Innovation Center (CBAIC), brings together innovative companies with researchers and clinicians from Charité and the BIH in the fields of health and biomedicine. Five start-ups from Singapore have successfully qualified for the programme in the current call for proposals. The search for suitable collaboration partners from the research and clinical sectors is now underway for these start-ups. Project funding is split equally between Enterprise Singapore and the participating start-ups. Read more
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News From the Research Group Brain Simulation
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© BIH | Brain Simulation Section
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© Maren Strehlau / m2fotografie
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How equitable is our healthcare system, and what role does gender play in this context? Founded in 2021, the Round Table of Women in Healthcare brings together the voices of eleven organizations, including the BIH. Together, they aim to increase the number of women in leadership positions and advance gender-equitable healthcare. In this interview, Professor Sylvia Thun discusses where further action is needed and why fundamental change is necessary in the healthcare sector. Read the interview
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© BIH | Research Group Vallier
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Organized by Professor Ludovic Vallier’s research group at the BIH, with Dylan Liabeuf, Anastasiia Maksiuk, Daniella Fradin and Katja Püstow leading the organization, the second Berlin Organoid Symposium brought together over 220 international scientists at Bayer Berlin on October 6-7, 2026. Building on the success of its first edition in 2025, the symposium brought together leading international researchers to explore the expanding applications of organoids, from stem cell biology, tissue development and self-organisation to disease modelling, regenerative medicine and personalised therapies. The programme featured 30 scientific talks and 60 poster presentations. 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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New Call for Applications for BIH-MD Student Research Stipends
The BIH Biomedical Innovation Academy (BIA) and the Academic Grants Committee at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have published the call for applications for their BIH-MD Student Research Stipends, which support Charité students in human medicine and dentistry pursuing doctoral projects leading to a Dr. med., MD/PhD, or Dr. med. dent. degree. Funding is available for doctoral candidates pursuing their degrees concurrently with their studies, whose advisors are employed at Charité or the Max Delbrück Center. The research project must be designed so that the doctoral project aligns thematically with the BIH’s objectives and involves at least six months of exclusively scientific work (a semester off from regular studies). Deadline for applications of the current call is November 10, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. Read more (in German only)
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GeneNovate® is back for another round! The nationwide entrepreneurship programme supports researchers in the field of gene and cell therapies in exploring the innovation potential of their research and taking their first steps towards translation and spin-off creation. Applications for GeneNovate® 2027 are open until November 13, 2026. Apply now
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© Stiftung Charité, Andreas Süß
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With the Visiting Fellows, Stiftung Charité provides funding for established or leading researchers from abroad or from other locations in Germany to stay in Berlin at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (including the BIH and German Heart Center Berlin (DHZC)) or at the Max Delbrück Center temporarily and, optionally, to set up their own research group. The application deadline is January 26, 2027 (11:59 p.m.). All information about the program
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© Stiftung Charité; Andreas Süß
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Researchers at all stages of their careers at Charité, the BIH, the DHZC, and the Max Delbrück Center are invited to collaborate with media professionals to explore new approaches to science communication and, in doing so, present their work to a broad public beyond the boundaries of their respective disciplines. Through this initiative, the Charité Foundation aims to promote greater public engagement with the life sciences. Funding amounts to a maximum of 100,000 euros per project for a period of up to nine months. The deadline for submitting the full proposal, written in collaboration with media professionals, is January 25, 2027. Full details about the program
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