Berlin Cell Hospital

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.