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The newly appointed scientific director of the Max Delbrück Center is recognized for her pioneering stem cell work in diabetes. Her team studies the development and function of insulin-producing beta cells and aims to generate beta cells from stem cells, paving the way for therapeutic applications.

At ECRC, Theda Bartolomaeus investigates how the microbes that colonize the human body affect our lives. In our "Lunch Break" video series, the PhD student reveals how she got into biology – and why sports are so important to her.

One of the MDC's most cited press releases last year revealed that naked mole-rats speak in different dialects. The communications team now has another reason to feel proud of this particular press release, because it has won first prize in this year's Award for Science Communication presented by science information service idw (Informationsdienst Wissenschaft).

Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and Huntington's diseases have one thing in common: misfolded proteins damage the nerve cells in the brain. Erich Wanker and Anne Ast explained at the Urania Berlin why the protein origami is so important, how the damage occurs and what can be done about it (recording in German).

Moving to Germany and starting a new job at the MDC in the middle of the first lockdown was not easy. It took months before Dr. Giovanna Diletta Ielacqua could finally meet her colleagues in person. In "LUNCH BREAK", the MRI expert answers our questions.

Does the booster shot protect against Omicron? Are there warning signs that point to a potentially severe progression? What is known about Long COVID, and which drugs help best after an infection? MDC molecular biologist Dr. Emanuel Wyler answers these and other questions on Twitter – and in our video right here.

Researchers at the MDC teamed up with Berlin’s water supply company, Berliner Wasserbetriebe, to develop a computer-based tool that can determine the distribution of coronavirus variants in wastewater – and thus in the population. The tool is now available to other scientists.

The MDC Advent calendar is here! We will be opening a door for you every day until 24 December. Take a look and get to know our staff. They will show you what our research center looks like from the inside and what is currently being researched at the MDC.

What does the delphinium flower have to do with proteins and corona? Why is diversity good for research? And, what are Berlin-based scientists doing to reduce animal testing? In 2021, Berlin Science Week once again offered plenty of food for thought and hands-on experiments.

Are prototype vaccines key to prepare for future pandemics? And how does an infection with SARS-CoV-2 impact the cardiovascular health of patients? Together with partners, the Max Delbrück Center (MDC) is hosting panel discussions on COVID-19 at World Health Summit (video) and Berlin Science Week.