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MDC’s statement regarding the Spiegel Online article

MDC scientists conduct excellent research. This includes rigorously following the rules of good scientific practice, ensuring a respectful work environment, and providing young scientists with comprehensive support. Here is the MDC’s statement on current reporting in Spiegel Online.

The Board of Directors of the Max Delbrück Center (MDC) in Berlin make the following statement regarding the Spiegel Online article about the patent dispute between former researchers at the Center: “We at the MDC always seek to reach an amicable agreement regarding patent issues at an early stage,” said Martin Lohse, Scientific Director of the Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, on Monday in Berlin, adding, “Yet our efforts in this instance, which occurred many years ago, were unfortunately not successful.” The parties involved are no longer employed at the MDC. The patent dispute is now being handled by a law firm, which is making an independent determination of the inventors’ share of royalties. “The MDC’s then Board of Directors, ombudspersons, and Staff Council as well as the PhD supervisor made efforts over several years, taking the form of numerous discussions and countless correspondence, to reach an agreement and resolve the conflicts,” Lohse continued. He further said that he regrets that an agreement hadn’t been reached.