Institute & Campus

As of August 15, 2026, Kirstin Bodensiek has officially taken the helm as Administrative Director of the Max Delbrück Center. She is stepping into the permanent position after leading the center on an interim basis.

A quiz hosted by the Finance Department, a behind-the-scenes tour of the biobank, and a relaxed lunch on the lawn — Summer Science Day 2026 offered something for everyone. The event brought together employees from across the Max Delbrück Center and offered inspiring glimpses of the center's future.

The German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK) has elected a new executive board. Our Vice Director Holger Gerhardt will continue to serve as part of the three-member leadership team. Congratulations!

The Helmholtz Institute for Translational AngioCardioScience in Mannheim/Heidelberg has appointed vascular biologist Karina Yaniv from the Weizmann Institute as its new Scientific Director. Yaniv will bridge research across institutes to fast-track therapies for cardiovascular disease.

Families, researchers, and clinicians will gather in Berlin to share knowledge and build momentum toward therapies for NEDAMSS, a rare neurodevelopmental disorder. Jakob Metzger, Group Leader of the Quantitative Stem Cell Biology lab explains why this day matters and what participants can expect.

The founding director of the Max Delbrück Center, physician and pharmacologist Detlev Ganten, celebrates his 85th birthday on March 28, 2026. Without his commitment, our research center would not exist as we know it today. Once again, we say thank you and offer our heartfelt congratulations!

The Max Delbrück Center’s Global Fellow Postdoctoral Program aims to establish a structure to foster greater interdisciplinary research among different labs. Our first winners of the three-year fellowship, who will be joining us as members of multiple labs, start this month.

From pond water probes to pesticide impact and chili-infused soil: 85 young researchers presented 43 projects at the “Jugend forscht” regional science competition at Campus Berlin-Buch. Under the theme “Maximum Perspective,” students tackled real-world challenges with curiosity and creativity.

Since August, Lilly Spalt has been heading Occupational Health Management at the Max Delbrück Center. Her goal is to create a supportive and healthy work environment for all staff. This year, her focus is on mental health – a wide range of measures are planned.

On February 18, the new Helmholtz President Martin Keller met with the Max Delbrück Center staff Berlin-Buch and exchanged ideas. He is currently visiting all 18 Helmholtz Centers to gain first-hand insight into the wide range of research conducted across the association.