MDC Berlin

MDC PhD student Matthias Jürgen Schmitt is being honored with the Curt Meyer Memorial Prize of the Berlin Cancer Society for his achievements in cancer research. He employs molecular reporters to investigate how glioblastoma – the deadliest brain tumor of all – becomes resistant to therapies.

Nikolaus Rajewsky wants to be able to detect diseases as they develop in the cells and fight them before they begin to cause damage. The systems biologist is establishing networks at all levels to help cell-based medicine achieve a breakthrough in Berlin and across Europe.

The MDC has joined six other biomedical research institutes to nurture Europe’s next generation of physician-scientists. “Emerald”, the first European-wide PhD program for medical doctors will provide state-of-the-art training and help to bridge the gap between lab research and clinical practice.

When it comes to making contracts or sharing research results, the Legal Department is there to make things run smoothly. Kirstin Bodensiek, the department’s head, explains in an interview why communication is the be-all and end-all in her job and what it all has to do with volleyball.

Studies at the MDC and the BIH have revealed that the liver, gallbladder and pancreas arise from a common pool of progenitor cells and that the supply of cells from this pool is inexhaustible. These findings may contribute to the development of new regenerative therapies, the researchers write in the journal “Nature”.

Present your research findings, meet new people, discover common interests, and initiate new joint projects – on November 4, 2021 postdocs have a forum of their own. Additionally if you’d like to know what research has to do with improv theater, don’t miss Uri Alon’s keynote talk.

Cancer immunologist Lydia Dyck has started her Marie Curie Postdoctoral Fellowship at the MDC. Her goal is to find new ways for the immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells, as tumors often evade the body’s defense mechanisms.

The Berlin-based physician and researcher Kai Schmidt-Ott is investigating the causes of kidney failure and working to develop new methods to better diagnose and treat kidney diseases. The German Society of Nephrology has now recognized his research achievements with the 2021 Franz Volhard Award, which includes a €10,000 cash prize.

EMBL (European Molecular Biology Laboratory) and the six Helmholtz Centers of the Research Field Health (Helmholtz Health) are expanding their collaboration. The two research organisations are cooperating to expand the frontiers of health research and advance scientific progress for human health.