Berlin Cell Hospital

With a grant of 600,000 euros, the Einstein Foundation Berlin is funding the preliminary module for an Einstein Center for Early Disease Interception. Ten Berlin institutions – including the Max Delbrück Center – are looking to develop, integrate and apply the technologies needed for precision medicine more quickly.

Simon Haas and his colleagues have traced the development of blood cells in detail – an important step for the diagnosis and therapy of blood cancers. To do this, they combined single-cell analyses with the detection of proteins on the cell surface, they report in "Nature Immunology".

When cells make the wrong decision, diseases ensue. This insight came from Berlin – namely from Rudolf Virchow, whose 200th birthday is being celebrated this year. To mark the anniversary, Berlin research institutions have announced the founding of the Berlin Cell Hospital. The MDC occupies a leading role in the project.

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.