Science

Virchow 2.0, the only finalist from Berlin to make it to the second round of the BMBF’s Clusters4Future competition, is entering the conception phase. At a kick-off meeting on September 27, 2021, participants from the scientific, clinical, and business communities offered a preview of their cluster strategy.

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.

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.

Science and art have a lot in common, at least when you look at it from Anita Waltho's perspective. In the second episode of “LUNCH BREAK“, she talks cellular trash, creativity in science and Berlin-Brandenburg's lakes.

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.

The anaplastic large cell lymphoma is a type of leukaemia whose development is significantly influenced by the transcription factor BATF3 and its target genes. An international research team, including scientists from Berlin, has now described a new approach to therapy in "Nature Communications".