SaxoCell Conference 2027

From Research to Clinical Practice – SaxoCell CLINICs Workshop 2026

How can innovative research findings be successfully translated into clinical applications? This question was the focus of this year’s SaxoCell CLINICs workshop, “From Research to Clinical Practice,” held on September 8, 2026, at the Study Center of Leipzig University Hospital. Approximately 60 participants from the fields of research, clinical practice, regulation, ethics, and industry gathered to discuss current developments and share practical experiences.

Moderated by Klaus Metzeler and Marco Herling, the workshop examined key challenges and success factors in the translation of cell and gene therapies. The agenda included, among other topics, current developments in CAR-T cell therapy, new approaches to treating solid tumors, gender-specific aspects of clinical trials, and issues related to ethics, regulation, ATMP manufacturing, and clinical trials.

The practical and interactive presentations by the speakers were particularly valuable. Markus Eckardt from the Ethics Committee of the University of Leipzig’s Faculty of Medicine presented ethical issues surrounding clinical trials, compassionate use programs, and individual therapeutic trials in a clear and accessible manner. Martina Schüssler-Lenz, a former member of PEI and EMA and a member of the SaxoCell Advisory Board, provided in-depth insight into regulatory requirements for the development and approval of ATMPs.

In his interactive presentation on ATMP manufacturing, Mirko Müller from Fraunhofer IZI provided a practical, hands-on understanding of GMP requirements. The program was rounded out by presentations from Vladan Vucinic on CAR-T cell therapy, Ulrich Hacker on the treatment of solid tumors, and Paul Warncke on gender-specific differences in clinical trials.

Case studies and interactive formats provided numerous points of reference for in-depth discussions and facilitated the exchange of diverse perspectives. Even the breaks were actively used for personal exchanges and networking.

The CLINICs Workshop is an established SaxoCell format: a workshop with a similar focus was already held during the first funding phase. By continuing this initiative in the second funding phase, SaxoCell once again underscores the importance of dialogue between research, clinical practice, industry, regulatory bodies, and ethics for the successful translation of cell and gene therapies.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to all speakers, moderators, and participants for their valuable contributions, open discussions, and in-depth exchanges.

Von der Forschung in die Klinik – SaxoCell CLINICs Workshop 2026

Wie gelingt der Weg von innovativen Forschungsergebnissen hin zur klinischen Anwendung? Dieser Frage widmete sich der diesjährige SaxoCell CLINICs Workshop „Von der Forschung in die Klinik“ am 8. September 2026 im Studienzentrum des Universitätsklinikums Leipzig. Rund 60 Teilnehmende aus Forschung, Klinik, Regulierung, Ethik und Industrie kamen zusammen, um aktuelle Entwicklungen zu diskutieren und Erfahrungen aus der Praxis auszutauschen.

Unter der Moderation von Klaus Metzeler und Marco Herling beleuchtete der Workshop zentrale Herausforderungen und Erfolgsfaktoren der Translation von Zell- und Gentherapien. Auf der Agenda standen unter anderem aktuelle Entwicklungen der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie, neue Ansätze zur Behandlung solider Tumoren, geschlechtsspezifische Aspekte klinischer Studien sowie Fragen zu Ethik, Regulierung, ATMP-Herstellung und klinischen Prüfungen.

Besonders wertvoll waren die praxisnahen und interaktiven Beiträge der Referentinnen und Referenten. Markus Eckardt von der Ethikkommission der Medizinischen Fakultät der Universität Leipzig vermittelte ethische Fragestellungen rund um klinische Prüfungen, Härtefallprogramme und individuelle Heilversuche anschaulich und verständlich. Martina Schüssler-Lenz, ehemaliges Mitglied von PEI und EMA sowie Mitglied des SaxoCell Advisory Boards, gab einen fundierten Einblick in regulatorische Anforderungen bei der Entwicklung und Zulassung von ATMPs.

Mirko Müller vom Fraunhofer IZI machte in seinem interaktiven Beitrag zur ATMP-Herstellung die Anforderungen an GMP praxisnah greifbar. Ergänzt wurde das Programm durch Beiträge von Vladan Vucinic zur CAR-T-Zell-Therapie, Ulrich Hacker zur Therapie solider Tumoren und Paul Warncke zu geschlechtsspezifischen Unterschieden in klinischen Studien.

Fallbeispiele und interaktive Formate boten zahlreiche Anknüpfungspunkte für intensive Diskussionen und ermöglichten den Austausch unterschiedlicher Perspektiven. Auch die Pausen wurden intensiv zum persönlichen Austausch und Networking genutzt.

Der CLINICs Workshop ist ein etabliertes SaxoCell-Format: Bereits in der 1. Förderphase fand ein Workshop mit vergleichbarem Fokus statt. Mit der Fortsetzung in der 2. Förderphase unterstreicht SaxoCell erneut die Bedeutung des Dialogs zwischen Forschung, Klinik, Industrie, Regulierung und Ethik für eine erfolgreiche Translation von Zell- und Gentherapien.

Ein herzlicher Dank gilt allen Referentinnen und Referenten, Moderatoren und Teilnehmenden für ihre wertvollen Beiträge, die offenen Diskussionen und den intensiven Austausch.

Natürlich — hier ist eine natürliche und professionelle deutsche Übersetzung, die sich gut für eine Website, einen Newsletter oder LinkedIn eignet:

Deine Idee könnte der nächste Durchbruch in der Zell- und Gentherapie sein.

SaxoCell startet in seine 3. Förderphase und wir suchen nach neuen Ideen, starken Partnern und innovativen Technologien, um gemeinsam die Zukunft der Zell- und Gentherapie zu gestalten!

Du hast eine Enabling-Technologie, eine digitale oder KI-basierte Lösung oder einen neuen Ansatz, der die Zell- und Gentherapie schneller, sicherer oder besser skalierbar machen könnte? Dann möchten wir von dir hören!

Für die 3. Förderphase sucht SaxoCell insbesondere nach Kooperationsprojekten mit einem starken translationalen und industriellen Fokus – von innovativer Forschung und präklinischer Validierung über die GMP-Entwicklung und klinische Vorbereitung bis hin zur industriellen Skalierung.

Gesucht werden sowohl ambitionierte Leuchtturmprojekte mit einem klaren Weg hin zur klinischen Anwendung oder Marktreife als auch kleinere Satellitenprojekte, die wichtige wissenschaftliche oder technologische Herausforderungen auf dem Weg dorthin adressieren.

Reiche deine Projektskizze bis zum 30. September 2026 ein.

Sprich mit uns! Du bist dir nicht sicher, ob deine Idee zu uns passt? Wir tauschen uns gerne mit dir über deine Projektidee und mögliche Kooperationsmöglichkeiten aus: info@saxocell.de

Your idea could become the next breakthrough in Cell & Gene Therapy.

SaxoCell is entering its 3rd funding phase and we are looking for fresh ideas, strong partners and innovative technologies to enter the future of Cell & Gene Therapy together!

Do you have an enabling technology, a digital or AI-driven solution, or a new approach that could make Cell & Gene Therapy faster, safer or more scalable? Then we want to hear from you!

For the 3rd funding phase, SaxoCell is particularly looking for collaborative projects with a strong translational and industrial focus. From innovative research and preclinical validation to GMP development, clinical preparation and industrial scaling.

We are looking for both ambitious flagship projects with a clear path towards clinical application or market readiness and smaller satellite projects addressing key scientific or technological challenges along the way.

Submit your project outline by September 30, 2026.

Talk to us! Not sure whether your idea fits? We are happy to discuss your project idea and potential collaboration opportunities: info@saxocell.de

Connecting Leaders From Every Stage of the Value Chain to Drive Advanced Therapy Development & Novel Biologics Processing

Cell 2026 brings together bioprocessing specialists, advanced therapy developers, and CGT manufacturing leaders across three connected programme’s in London, 12–13 November. From cell line engineering to CMC and commercial delivery, this is where the community advancing the next generation of therapies meets to move the work forward.

You can visit their website here.

Job Position: CEO at Biothrust

Affiliation: BioThrust

Background: He has been CEO and Co-Founder of BioThrust since April 2022, a spin-off from RWTH Aachen University. The company’s core membrane aeration technology for bioreactors was developed during his PhD research in chemical process engineering, which he completed in 2023.

Prior to this, he studied biotechnology at RWTH Aachen University (M.Sc.) and at FH Aachen (B.Sc.).

He was awarded the Borchers Plaque in 2024 and won the Innovation Award of the German BioRegions in 2023.

He lives in his hometown of Neuss and was born in 1969.

Job Position: Postdoc at Institute of Immunology, TU Dresden Coordinator, NCT Immune Monitoring Unit Dresden

Affiliation:

• National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), NCT/UCC Dresden, a partnership between DKFZ, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology, and Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR)
• German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Dresden, and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
• Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus, TUD Dresden University of Technology

Background: Rebekka Wehner graduated in biology, did her Ph.D. and habilitation on dendritic cells. In the Institute of Immunology, medical faculty, TU Dresden, her research focuses on human immune cells like dendritic cells, monocytes/macrophages, natural killer cells, and T cells in the context of anti-tumor immune responses and therapies. Since 2016, she coordinates the NCT/UCC Immune Monitoring Unit Dresden, which offers an accompanying immune monitoring program during clinical studies. She supports the characterization of immune cells in blood, bone marrow, and tissues of tumor patients using multiplex flow cytometry and fluorescence-based immunohistochemistry.

Job Position: Chief Medical Officer of FamiCord

Affiliation: FamiCord AG

Background: Tomasz Baran is Chief Medical Officer of FamiCord –  the largest cord blood bank in Europe and 3^rd largest worldwide. He joined cord blood banking activity in 2010, prior to that he has been holding various position in pharmaceutical industry. In his current role Tomasz is responsible for medical communication on stem cell banking and use in therapies. He presented this topic on several international events – including Cord Blood Connect (USA), Perinatal Stem Cell Conference (USA) and Advanced Therapies (UK).  Tomasz is also involved in development of cell&gene therapies manufacturing activity of FamiCord. Tomasz Baran serves ad Board of Directors member at Cord Blood Association (currently incorporated into AABB).

Job Position: Driving Multimodal AI in Precision Medicine

Affiliation: Fraunhofer IZI

Background: Ulrike Weirauch studied Molecular Life Science at the University of Lübeck and completed her doctorate in the research group of Achim Aigner at the Biochemical-Pharmacological Center of Philipps University Marburg in the field of cancer research.
She subsequently worked as a postdoctoral researcher in the Independent Division of Clinical Pharmacology at the Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at Leipzig University.
Since 2021, she has been working as a scientist and science manager with Kristin Reiche in the Department of Medical Bioinformatics at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell The

Job Position: Director of CREATIC CoE

Affiliation: Centre of Excellence CREATIC (Central European Advanced Therapy and Immunotherapy Centre), Masaryk University, Brno, Czech Republic

Background: Dr. Regina Demlová (MD, PhD) is a clinical pharmacologist specializing in oncology and personalized therapies including ATMPs. She is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University in Brno, Czech Republic, where she also serves as Head of the Department of Pharmacology. For over a decade, she has been a leading figure in the development of academic clinical research in the Czech Republic, having established and currently leading the national clinical research infrastructure CZECRIN and the Centre of Excellence CREATIC, dedicated to the research, development, GMP production, clinical trials, and regulatory aspects of advanced cell and gene therapies.

Job Position: Managing director of BioM

Affiliation: BioM

Background: Prof. Dr. Ralf Huss is managing director of BioM in Martinsried/Munich. Until the end of 2022, he was founding Director of the Institute of Digital Medicine (IDM) and Prof. of Pathology and Molecular Diagnostics at University Hospital Augsburg, Germany. Previously he spent many years in pharmaceutical and diagnostic industry, founded some biotech enterprises and authored more than 180 papers on cancer and stem cell research as well as the use on AI in digital medicine.

Job Position: Director of the MK1 Clinic at University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden.

Affiliation: CRTD

Background: Throughout his clinical career Prof. Bornhäuser has focussed on translational research studies in the area of acute myeloid leukaemia and hematopoietic cell transplantation. He was one of the founding members of the Center of Regenerative Therapy Dresden (www.crt-dresden.de) and developed additional expertise in the areas of stem cell biology and adoptive cellular therapy. Professor Bornhäuser has a portfolio of responsibilities encompassing clinical service, being head of the Good manufacturing laboratories, coordinating translational reseach, lecturer in medical studies and in a master course for regenerative medicine and is an elected member of the internal medical faculty in Dresden. In 2015 he became a visiting professor at the department of haematology at King’s College London, UK. In 2016, he joined the directorate of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (www.nct-dresdden.de) in Dresden.

Job Position: COO at T-CURX

Affiliation: T-CURX

Background: Marion Jung is a molecular biologist who earned her doctorate at LMU Munich under Nobel Prize laureate Svante Pääbo. She has more than 20 years of experience in building and scaling biotechnology companies.

As co-founder and CEO of ChromoTek, she led the company through its successful acquisition by Proteintech Group in 2020. Following the acquisition, she assumed leadership roles at Proteintech and, beginning in 2024, became COO of T-CURX, a CAR-T immunotherapy start-up.

In addition, she brings extensive expertise in venture capital (including work with Earlybird), innovation policy, and government advisory through her participation in committees such as the Hightech-Forum and the German High-Tech Gründerfonds.

Job Position: Moderator

Affiliation: LMU

Background: Isabel Werdin is a professional moderator for events, television and podcasts with over 16 years of experience in communication and event moderation. She studied psychology, communication studies and cultural studies in Munich (LMU) and Sydney, Australia (University of New South Wales).

At the Technical University of Munich (TUM), she spent six years in science communication and management, working at the interface of cutting-edge research and technology, and hosting several conferences.

Isabel Werdin moderates events, networking forums, and panel discussions in German and English, particularly in the fields of science, (mental) health, AI and innovation. Her interview and stage guests have included Nobel laureates, founders of unicorn start-ups, professional athletes, top executives and leading political figures.

As a certified team trainer and public speaking coach, she also provides presentation training. With a clear eye for individual strengths, Isabel supports and connects executives on their journey — always with the aim of communicating with focus, authenticity and charisma.

Job Position: Head of Biology & Applications at Green Elephant Biotech

Affiliation: Green Elephant Biotech

Background: With over a decade of experience in stem cell biology, disease modeling, and cell therapy, she specializes in leading interdisciplinary collaborations to advance sustainable biotechnological innovations. At Green Elephant Biotech, she focuses on strategic partnerships and securing funding to promote scalable and accessible cell and gene therapies through innovative technology for dynamic adherent cell manufacturing.

Her expertise includes innovation management, strategic planning, grant proposal development, and stakeholder engagement. By collaborating closely with management, R&D, and commercial teams, she contributes to driving impactful solutions for the organization while fostering scientific communication and representation at global conferences.

Job Position: Future Founder of SMART-NK Therapeutics

Affiliation: SMART-NK Therapeutics

Background: He has a strong background in immunology and as a postdoctoral fellow he joined the group of Prof. Torsten Tonn and worked on understanding the immunological synapse of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-NK cells and dissecting cancer cell resistance to NK cell-based cell therapies.

Job Position: CMO at Cancilico

Affiliation: Cancilico

Background:

Job Position: Chief Technology Officer

Affiliation: Seamless Therapeutics, Dresden

Background: Felix Lansing is a scientific co-founder and currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer. The foundation of the technology used at Seamless originated from Dr Lansing’s research and discovery of programmable recombinases during his PhD studies at Dresden University of Technology. He is an author of many peer-reviewed publications, an inventor on 7 patents, and is dedicated to leveraging his expertise to address how programmable recombinases can be applied to solve genetic disease and improve the lives of patients. He earned his BSc in Molecular Biology from Bielefeld University, his MSc in Regenerative Biology and Medicine and his PhD in genetics and genome engineering at the Dresden University of Technology.

Job Position: Chief Business Officer

Affiliation: TQ Therapeutics GmbH

Background: Christin Zündorf is Chief Business Officer at TQ Therapeutics responsible for commercial, organizational & strategic topics. With previously over eight years of experience in strategic consulting across the pharmaceutical and life science industry, her expertise lies in commercial strategy and organization design with deep knowledge in commercial strategy, launch excellence, pricing and market access.

Job Position: Co-Founder & President

Affiliation: NanoVation Therapeutics (NVTx)

Background: Dr. Dominik Witzigmann is an entrepreneurial scientist and 2024 Highly Cited Researcher, recognizing him among the world’s most influential researchers in nucleic acid delivery. He held research positions at leading institutions (safety/tox, RNAi & cancer, targeted DNA delivery, RNA-based genome editing) and joined Prof. Pieter Cullis to focus on extrahepatic RNA delivery. He has held leadership roles in Canada’s NanoMedicines Innovation Network (NMIN) and served on the Board of the CRS Gene Delivery and Genome Editing Focus Group. Dominik co-founded NanoVation Therapeutics to advance next-generation LNP technologies for enabling genetic medicines.

Job Position: Technical Specialist

Affiliation: Sino Biological Europe GmbH

Background: PhD Scientist with 2 years of intensive industry experience in the full lifecycle of biopharmaceutical development. Technical lead for high-value projects encompassing stable cell line development (CLD), antibody discovery, and recombinant protein expression. Proven track record in designing integrated Upstream-to Downstream strategies, conducting advanced protein characterization and providing expert technical consultation to international clients to ensure project succes

Job Position: Director, Cellular Immunotherapy, Massachusetts General Hospital; Professor of Medicine, Harvard Medical School; Associate Director, Gene and Cell Therapy Institute, Mass-General-Brigham; Attending Physician, Hematopoietic Cell Transplant & Cell Therapy Program; Associate Member, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard

Affiliation: Krantz Family Center for Center Research; Paula O’Keefe Endowed Chair in Cancer Research; Massachusetts General Hospital

Background: Dr. Marcela Maus is the Paula J. O’Keeffe Endowed Chair at Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center, Director of the Cellular Immunotherapy Program, and Professor at Harvard Medical School, where she leads a laboratory focused on advancing CAR T cell therapies for cancer. Trained at MIT, the University of Pennsylvania, and Memorial Sloan Kettering, she has made pioneering contributions to the development of CAR T cells, including research on treatment resistance and therapy-related toxicities. Alongside her scientific and clinical work, she mentors the next generation of researchers and enjoys family life with her husband, three children, and pets, as well as hobbies like gardening and skiing.

Job Position: Professor, Retinal Stem Cell Research and Neurogenesis

Affiliation: TUD Dresden University of Technology, CRTD – Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden und Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen e.V. (DZNE) Dresden

Background: Prof. Dr. med. Mike O. Karl is a group leader at the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and professor at the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD), TU Dresden. His research focuses on human retina degeneration and therapy, with a particular emphasis on photoreceptor neurodegeneration, glia biology, and human stem cell–derived cell and organoid technologies as disease and therapy‐validation models. He has made key contributions to understanding cellular mechanisms of retinal degeneration and to the development of human-based translational model systems for age-related macular degeneration and inherited retinal diseases. His work has been recognized by multiple awards in ophthalmology and regenerative medicine, and he actively bridges fundamental discovery with translational and therapeutic innovation.

Job Position: BPS Business Development & Licensing Manager

Affiliation: Cytiva

Background: Martin Rabel, Ph.D., leads Cytiva’s BioPharma Services in EMEA, with a focus on RNA‑LNP technologies and CDMO solutions. He supports nucleic acid therapy development through Cytiva’s lipid nanoparticle platform and integrated development, analytical, and manufacturing services. With a background in Pharmacy and Nanomedicine, he drives innovation across the biopharma landscape while delivering scientific and commercial excellence.

Job Position: Managing Director

Affiliation: BioMedTech Consulting GmbH

Background: Lorenz Mayr is an internationally experienced executive in the biopharmaceutical and life sciences sector, most recently serving as CEO of Vector BioPharma AG in Basel. Previously, he held senior leadership positions at GE Healthcare, AstraZeneca, Novartis, and Bayer, and serves on several supervisory boards and scientific advisory boards.
Since March 2024, he has been a Non-Executive Director at FundaMental Pharma GmbH, a Heidelberg-based company developing novel therapeutics for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, he serves as Senior Healthcare Advisor at EQT Investments and advises companies and institutions in the life sciences sector.

Job Position: Deputy director of the NCT/UCC Early Clinical Trial Unit

Affiliation: Early Clinical Trial Unit, Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus affiliated to the National Center for Tumor Diseases – NCT/UCC

Background: Katrin Wetzko is a hematologist/oncologist by training and deputy director of the NCT/UCC Early Clinical Trial Unit. She has over 10 years of experience in running well over 100 phase I trials in hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. She and the team of the NCT/UCC ECTU were among the first to apply chimeric antigen receptor T-cells in Germany and pioneered the use of TCR-engineered T-cells in solid tumors. Dr Wetzko led the establishment of the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) program at the NCT/UCC ECTU and treated more than 50 patients with this modality.  She is an expert on early drug development and safety management in next generation immunotherapeutics.

Job Position: Professor for Immunology

Affiliation: University of Konstanz

Background: Kathrin Schumann studied biochemistry at the University of Tübingen and obtained her PhD at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried. During her postdoc at the University of California, San Francisco, she developed CRISPR technologies for the engineering of primary human T cells. In 2018, she was appointed as Rudolf Mößbauer Tenure Track Assistant Professor of “Engineering Immune Cells for Therapy” at TUM School of Medicine. In 2025, she took up the position of Chair of Immunology at the University of Konstanz.

Job position: Director Emerging Applications SynBio

Affiliation: Twist Bioscience

Background: Julian Jude is the Global Director of Emerging Applications at Twist Bioscience. His career spans functional genomics, genome engineering, and technological development in academia and industry. He developed shRNA and CRISPR screening platforms, conducted over 70 genome-wide FGX screens, co-created the Vienna Bioactivity gRNA algorithm, and established a CROP-Seq platform at a startup. Before joining Twist in 2019, he advised scientists worldwide on custom workflows and built strategic partnerships. After a brief role in AI-metagenomics as Genome Engineering Lead at Basecamp Research, where he built novel nucleases, he returned to Twist in 2024, combining his deep expertise in functional genomics with a passion for emerging technologies and Twist’s synthetic DNA capabilities to help accelerate discoveries across the life sciences.

Job Position: Consultant CMC

Affiliation: Consulting unit of hVIVO

Background: Ion Tcacencu, MD, PhD holds a doctorate from Karolinska Institutet in regenerative medicine and brings over 17 years of academic expertise in cell and tissue engineering. After transitioning into industry to lead quality and manufacturing at a cell therapy startup, he joined hVIVO as a CMC consultant. He supports academic ATMP developers with regulatory strategy, CMC development, market landscape analysis, and GMP-ready programmes — as well as technical due diligence for investors.

Job Position: Prof. for Rxperimental and Clinical CAR T Cell Therapy, Head of CAR T Cell Program

Affiliation: Hospital of Erlangen, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Dept. Of Internal Medicine 5 – Hematology & Oncology

Background: Prof. Müller obtained his MD in Freiburg, Germany and started his clinical education in Hamburg. With a focus on targeting malignant B cells from his early research career he did a postdoctoral fellowship with Dr. Ira Pastan, at the NCI on resistance to CD22-targeted therapy in ALL and aggressive lymphoma. After his post-doc he continued the work on B cell targeting in Erlangen, Germany using first antibody directed therapies and then CAR T cells with a focus on translational concepts including tumor microenvironment and functional aspects of a patient’s immune system. As head of the CAR T cell unit, he pioneers CAR T cell therapies in novel indications including solid tumors and autoimmune diseases.

Job Position: Professor, Chair of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology

Affiliation: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU) München

Background: Ernst Wagner is Chair of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Department Pharmacy, LMU Munich (since 2001) and member of Munich Center of Nanoscience (CeNS). He was Director Cancer Vaccines, Boehringer Ingelheim 1992-2001 (world-wide first polymer-based gene therapy in 1994), Group Leader at IMP Vienna and the Vienna University Biocenter (1987-1995), postdoc at ETH Zurich (1985-1987), PhD in chemistry (1985, TU Vienna). He is Academician of the European Academy of Sciences, member of College of Fellows of Controlled Release Society (CRS), Honorary Professor at Sichuan U and at Jinan U. He authored ≥ 529 publications, with > 56 000 citations, h-index 119 (GS).

Job Position: Director, Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy, University of Magdeburg

Affiliation: University of Magdeburg

Background: Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Mougiakakos is Director of the Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy at Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg. He studied medicine in Hannover and trained in hematology and oncology in Freiburg, Regensburg, and Erlangen, with a research fellowship at the Karolinska Institute. He played a key role in the first clinical applications of CAR-T cell therapy for autoimmune diseases

Job Position: Head of Staff Office Regulatory Affairs and Regulatory Support Unit at Charité

Affiliation: Charité

Background: Dr. Christoph Conrad worked for many years on vaccine evaluation at the Paul Ehrlich Institute (PEI) and later headed the Office for Scientific and Regulatory Advice (OSRA), an infrastructure of the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF). He also gained international and governmental experience at the WHO in Geneva, the BMBF (now BMFTR), and the Federal Chancellery. Since July 2022, he has been Head of Staff Office Regulatory Affairs at the BIH and, since June 2024, also leads the newly established Regulatory Support Unit.

Job Position: Director of Healthcare and Life Sciences at Fraunhofer IPA

Affiliation: Fraunhofer IPA

Background: He studied Mechanical Engineering with a focus on Production Engineering. Passionate about the interaction between bioworkflows and automation; established and led laboratory automation and bioproduction at Fraunhofer IPA. Multiple founder (Dispendix, Nanolockin, Liquimetrix).

Am 2. Juni 2026 kam das SaxoCell-Konsortium einen Tag vor unserer SaxoCell Conference im Penck Hotel Dresden zusammen, um sich auszutauschen, aktuelle Entwicklungen zu diskutieren und die strategische Ausrichtung für die kommenden Monate zu gestalten.

Eröffnet wurde das Treffen von unseren Clustersprechern. Anschließend gab Dr. Christiane Püttmann (Projektträger Jülich, PtJ) wertvolle Einblicke in die Perspektive des Fördermittelgebers und beleuchtete wichtige Aspekte für die weitere Entwicklung unserer Aktivitäten.

Ein zentraler Programmpunkt war die Vorstellung unserer sieben Forschungs- und Entwicklungsprojekte. Die präsentierten Fortschritte und neuen Ideen führten zu lebhaften Diskussionen mit interessierten Clusterpartnern sowie den Mitgliedern unseres Advisory Boards und boten eine konstruktive Plattform für Feedback und die gemeinsame Weiterentwicklung der Projekte. Darüber hinaus informierte SaxoCellutions über den aktuellen Stand der Planungen für die dritte Förderphase, deren Start für Oktober 2027 vorgesehen ist. Die Vorbereitungen für diesen nächsten wichtigen Schritt haben damit bereits begonnen.

Die besondere Atmosphäre des Penck Hotels bot den passenden Rahmen für die abschließenden Sitzungen des Tages – das Industry Board Meeting und das Advisory Board Meeting. Im Mittelpunkt standen die stärkere Einbindung industrieller Partner sowohl in die kommende Förderphase als auch in den Verein selbst. Während des Advisory Board Meetings nahmen sechs Beiratsmitglieder die SaxoCell-Projekte eingehend unter die Lupe und teilten ihre wertvollen Einschätzungen und Empfehlungen zum Abschluss der Veranstaltung mit dem gesamten Cluster.

Insgesamt war es ein inspirierender und äußerst produktiver Tag mit hervorragenden Präsentationen, offenen Diskussionen und zahlreichen wertvollen Impulsen für die zukünftige Entwicklung von SaxoCell. Das Feedback des Advisory Boards zeigte zudem auf, wie die Projekte ihre Profile weiter schärfen und ihre Wirkung mit Blick auf die nächste Förderphase noch gezielter ausbauen können.

Ein herzliches Dankeschön an alle Vortragenden, Projektteams, Beiratsmitglieder und Teilnehmenden, die dieses Konsortialtreffen zu einem großen Erfolg gemacht haben. Wir freuen uns auf die nächsten gemeinsamen Schritte!

SaxoCell Looks Back on Two Successful Days in Leipzig – with More Than 900 Participants, Valuable Conversations at Our Booth, and a TV Report Highlighting the Opportunities and Challenges Facing the Industry

The German Biotech Days 2026 (DBT) in Leipzig demonstrated the tremendous momentum driving Saxony’s biotechnology sector. For SaxoCell, the event provided a valuable opportunity to exchange ideas with partners from academia, healthcare, industry, politics, and funding organizations. A particular highlight was the visit of Dirk Panter, Saxony’s State Minister for Economic Affairs, Labour, Energy and Climate Protection, to our booth. His assessment perfectly captured the industry’s spirit of optimism:

“There is real potential here. This is an incredibly innovative industry, and we are proud to be part of it.”

At the same time, the discussions in Leipzig underscored one of the key challenges currently facing the sector: turning promising ideas into market-ready applications is a long, complex, and capital-intensive process. A recent TV report by Sachsen Fernsehen addresses this very issue. As Dr. André Gerth, Founder and CEO of BIONCaRT GmbH, emphasizes in the report, this crucial phase requires “more public and private investment.”

For SaxoCell, one thing is clear: Saxony is home to outstanding research, strong networks, and exceptional innovative strength. The next step is to make these strengths even more visible and to work together to create the conditions that will transform promising scientific approaches into the therapies of tomorrow. As our Cluster Spokesperson, Prof. Dr. Dr. Ulrike Köhl, Director of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) in Leipzig and Director of the Institute of Clinical Immunology at Leipzig University, puts it:

“The key now is to establish the right framework conditions so that scientific advances can be translated into reliable treatments for patients.”

Watch the TV report by Sachsen Fernsehen here: https://www.sachsen-fernsehen.de/mediathek/video/sachsens-biotechnologie-hat-ein-geldproblem/

SaxoCell blickt auf zwei starke Tage in Leipzig zurück – mit mehr als 900 Teilnehmenden, wertvollen Gesprächen an unserem Stand und einem TV-Beitrag, der Chancen und Herausforderungen der Branche sichtbar macht

Die Deutschen Biotechnologietage 2026 in Leipzig haben gezeigt, wie viel Dynamik in Sachsens Biotechnologie steckt. Für SaxoCell waren die DBT eine wertvolle Gelegenheit zum Austausch mit Partner*innen aus Wissenschaft, Klinik, Industrie, Politik und Förderung. Ein besonderes Signal war dabei auch der Besuch des Sächsischen Staatsministers für Wirtschaft, Arbeit, Energie und Klimaschutz, Dirk Panter, an unserem Stand. Seine Einschätzung bringt die Aufbruchsstimmung der Branche treffend auf den Punkt: „Da geht wirklich was. Es ist eine absolut innovative Branche, in der wir dabei sind.“

Gleichzeitig wurde in Leipzig deutlich, was die Branche aktuell bewegt: Der Weg von der guten Idee bis zur Anwendung am Markt ist lang, anspruchsvoll und kapitalintensiv. Ein aktueller TV-Beitrag von Sachsen Fernsehen greift diese Herausforderung auf. Wie Dr. André Gerth, Gründer und Geschäftsführer der BIONCaRT GmbH, darin betont, braucht es für diese Phase „mehr öffentliches und privates Kapital“. Für SaxoCell ist zugleich klar: Sachsen bringt exzellente Forschung, starke Netzwerke und viel Innovationskraft mit. Jetzt gilt es, diese Stärke weiter sichtbar zu machen und gemeinsam die Bedingungen dafür zu schaffen, dass aus vielversprechenden Ansätzen Therapien der Zukunft werden. Wie unsere Clustersprecherin Prof. Dr. Dr. Ulrike Köhl, Leiterin des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Zelltherapie und Immunologie IZI in Leipzig und Direktorin des Instituts für Klinische Immunologie der Universität Leipzig, formuliert: „Jetzt kommt es darauf an, die richtigen Rahmenbedingungen zu schaffen, damit aus wissenschaftlichen Fortschritten verlässliche Anwendungen für Patientinnen und Patienten werden.“

Hier gelangen Sie zum TV-Beitrag von Sachsen Fernsehen: https://www.sachsen-fernsehen.de/mediathek/video/sachsens-biotechnologie-hat-ein-geldproblem/

SaxoCell gratuliert herzlich Sandy Tretbar (Fraunhofer IZI), Projektleiterin von SB-TRACT innerhalb des SaxoCell-Clusters, zum Gewinn des „Ideenpreises“ bei der 10. Leipziger Gründungsnacht für ihr innovatives Spin-off-Projekt CAR FINDER.

Mit einem überzeugenden Pitch und einem zukunftsweisenden Konzept konnte Sandy Tretbar gemeinsam mit ihrem Team die Jury von der Bedeutung und dem Potenzial ihrer Technologie überzeugen. Der mit 5.000 Euro dotierte Preis würdigt den innovativen Ansatz sowie das unternehmerische Engagement hinter dem Projekt.

CAR FINDER entwickelt eine Plattform zur schnellen Identifizierung und Charakterisierung geeigneter CAR-Kandidaten für die Entwicklung neuer Zelltherapieprodukte. Durch eine umfassende In-vitro-Analyse von CAR-Expression, Signalübertragung und CAR-T-Zell-Funktionalität ermöglicht die Plattform eine beschleunigte Bewertung und Optimierung zukünftiger CAR-basierter Therapien.

Die Auszeichnung unterstreicht die erfolgreiche Verbindung von wissenschaftlicher Exzellenz und unternehmerischem Denken innerhalb der SaxoCell-Community. SaxoCell freut sich sehr über die Anerkennung für Sandy Tretbar und ihr Team und begleitet die weiteren Schritte von CAR FINDER auf dem Weg zur Translation und möglichen Anwendung.

Herzliche Glückwünsche gehen an das gesamte CAR FINDER-Team, Fraunhofer AHEAD sowie alle Partnerinnen und Partner, die zur Entwicklung dieser vielversprechenden Innovation beitragen.

SaxoCell congratulates Sandy Tretbar (Fraunhofer IZI), project lead of SB-TRACT within the SaxoCell Cluster, on receiving the “Idea” award at the 10th Leipzig Founders Night (Leipziger Gründungsnacht) for her innovative spin-off project CAR FINDER.

With a convincing pitch and a visionary concept, Sandy Tretbar and her team impressed the jury with their approach to accelerating the development of next-generation cell therapies. The award was accompanied by prize money of €5,000, recognizing the potential of the technology and the entrepreneurial commitment behind the project.

CAR FINDER aims to provide a platform for the rapid identification and characterization of promising CAR candidates for future cell therapy products. By enabling comprehensive in vitro assessment of CAR expression, signaling and CAR T cell functionality, the platform supports the efficient development and optimization of innovative CAR-based therapies.

The award highlights the successful combination of scientific excellence and entrepreneurial innovation within the SaxoCell community. SaxoCell is delighted to see Sandy Tretbar and her team’s dedication recognized and looks forward to supporting the continued development of CAR FINDER on its path towards translation and commercialization.

SaxoCell extends its warm congratulations to the entire CAR FINDER team, Fraunhofer AHEAD and all partners who contributed to the success of this promising innovation.

On 15 November 2025, SaxoCell participated in the Cancer Information Day at University Hospital Leipzig (UKL) as part of the UKL Health Forum. The event provided an opportunity to inform patients, relatives and interested members of the public about innovative cell and gene therapies, as well as new treatment approaches developed in Saxony that are already available to patients today – particularly those with hematological cancers.

At the SaxoCell information stand, Nicole Modler and Stefanie Binder were available to answer questions and discuss current developments in cell and gene therapy with visitors. Numerous conversations highlighted the strong interest in new therapeutic approaches and demonstrated the importance of providing accessible information about advances in personalized medicine and innovative cancer treatments.

A special highlight of the day was a reading by author Stefan Schwarz from his book “Bis ins Mark”. As a former cancer patient treated at University Hospital Leipzig, he shared personal experiences from his treatment journey in a way that was both honest and moving, while also bringing moments of humor and encouragement to the audience.

The programme was complemented by two expert presentations from physicians at University Hospital Leipzig. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hacker presented insights into personalized cancer medicine, while PD Dr. Vladan Vucinic spoke about innovative cell therapies and current developments within SaxoCell. Both presentations addressed complex medical topics in an accessible way and provided valuable insights into the current state of research and clinical translation.

SaxoCell would like to thank the University Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), the event management team at University Hospital Leipzig and all contributors for their excellent organization and collaboration. The patient day once again demonstrated the importance of direct dialogue between research, clinical practice and patients in building understanding and trust in innovative therapies.

Am 15. November 2025 beteiligte sich SaxoCell am Informationstag Krebs des Universitätsklinikums Leipzig (UKL). Im Rahmen des UKL-Gesundheitsforums informierte das Cluster über innovative Zell- und Gentherapien sowie neue Behandlungsansätze, die in Sachsen entwickelt werden und Patientinnen und Patienten – insbesondere mit hämatologischen Krebserkrankungen – bereits heute zur Verfügung stehen.

Am SaxoCell-Informationsstand standen Nicole Modler und Stefanie Binder als Ansprechpartnerinnen für die Besucherinnen und Besucher bereit. In zahlreichen Gesprächen beantworteten sie Fragen zu aktuellen Entwicklungen in der Zell- und Gentherapie sowie zur Forschung und klinischen Anwendung innovativer Präzisionstherapien. Das große Interesse und die intensive Nachfrage unterstrichen den hohen Informationsbedarf zu neuen Therapieoptionen.

Ein besonderer Programmpunkt war die Lesung des Autors Stefan Schwarz aus seinem Buch „Bis ins Mark“. Als ehemaliger Patient des Universitätsklinikums Leipzig schilderte er auf eindrucksvolle Weise seine persönlichen Erfahrungen mit der Krebsbehandlung. Seine bewegenden, zugleich humorvollen und authentischen Schilderungen sorgten für große Resonanz beim Publikum.

Ergänzt wurde das Programm durch zwei Fachvorträge von Ärzten des Universitätsklinikums Leipzig. Prof. Dr. Ulrich Hacker sprach über die Möglichkeiten der personalisierten Krebsmedizin, während PD Dr. Vladan Vucinic aktuelle Entwicklungen innovativer Zelltherapien sowie die Arbeit des SaxoCell-Clusters vorstellte. Beide Vorträge vermittelten komplexe medizinische Inhalte verständlich und boten den Teilnehmenden wertvolle Einblicke in den aktuellen Stand der Forschung und klinischen Anwendung.

SaxoCell bedankt sich herzlich beim Universitären Cancer Center Leipzig (UCCL), dem Veranstaltungsmanagement des Universitätsklinikums Leipzig sowie allen Mitwirkenden für die hervorragende Organisation und die erfolgreiche Zusammenarbeit. Der Patiententag hat erneut gezeigt, wie wichtig der direkte Dialog zwischen Forschung, Medizin und Patientinnen und Patienten ist, um über innovative Therapien zu informieren und Vertrauen in neue Behandlungsansätze zu stärken.

Vom 20. bis 22. Oktober 2025 fand die Autumn School 2025 auf dem Villa Ida Media Campus in Leipzig statt. Die Veranstaltung brachte Forschende und Innovatorinnen und Innovatoren der TU Dresden sowie des Fraunhofer-Instituts für Zelltherapie und Immunologie (Fraunhofer IZI) zusammen, um sich drei Tage lang intensiv mit Technologietransfer, Unternehmertum und der Verwertung wissenschaftlicher Innovationen auseinanderzusetzen.

Im Mittelpunkt des Programms standen Themen wie Geschäftsmodellentwicklung, Schutz geistigen Eigentums, Finanzierung, Pitch-Training und Kommerzialisierungsstrategien. Sechs interdisziplinäre Teams – Ribolution, NK4Therapy, Elia Cell, Green Pharming, NeuroNK und CAR-Finder – arbeiteten gemeinsam daran, ihre Geschäftsideen weiterzuentwickeln, Vermarktungsstrategien zu erarbeiten und ihre Projekte auf eine mögliche Ausgründung oder wirtschaftliche Anwendung vorzubereiten.

In interaktiven Workshops und Fachvorträgen erhielten die Teilnehmenden praxisnahe Einblicke in den Technologietransfer, die Entwicklung von Geschäftsmodellen mithilfe des Business Model Canvas sowie in Strategien zum Schutz geistigen Eigentums und zur erfolgreichen Kommerzialisierung wissenschaftlicher Innovationen. Ein Pitch-Training bereitete die Teams auf ihre Abschlusspräsentationen vor, bei denen eine Fachjury wertvolles Feedback für die weitere Entwicklung der Projekte gab. Ergänzt wurde das Programm durch Einblicke aus der Industrie, die praktische Erfahrungen im Technologietransfer der Life Sciences vermittelten.

Die Autumn School bot den Teilnehmenden eine hervorragende Gelegenheit, unternehmerische Kompetenzen auszubauen, sich interdisziplinär zu vernetzen und neue Kooperationen zwischen Wissenschaft und Wirtschaft anzustoßen. Damit leistete die Veranstaltung einen wichtigen Beitrag dazu, vielversprechende Forschungsergebnisse auf ihrem Weg in die praktische Anwendung zu unterstützen.

SaxoCell bedankt sich herzlich bei allen Organisatorinnen und Organisatoren, Referierenden, Mentorinnen und Mentoren sowie den Teilnehmenden, die zum Erfolg der Autumn School 2025 beigetragen haben. Ihr Engagement hat maßgeblich dazu beigetragen, ein inspirierendes Umfeld für Innovation, Wissensaustausch und Technologietransfer zu schaffen.

From 20–22 October 2025, the Autumn School 2025 brought together researchers and innovators from TU Dresden and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (Fraunhofer IZI) at the Villa Ida Media Campus in Leipzig for three days dedicated to technology transfer, entrepreneurship and the commercialization of scientific innovations.

The programme focused on key aspects of translating research into practice, including business model development, intellectual property strategies, financing, pitch training and commercialization. Six interdisciplinary teams – Ribolution, NK4Therapy, Elia Cell, Green Pharming, NeuroNK and CAR-Finder – worked intensively on refining their innovation concepts and preparing their projects for potential market applications.

Participants attended a series of interactive workshops and expert-led sessions covering technology transfer, the Business Model Canvas, intellectual property protection and commercialization strategies. A dedicated pitch training prepared the teams for the final presentation session, where an expert jury provided constructive feedback and valuable perspectives on the further development of their projects. The programme also included insights from industry, highlighting practical experiences in technology transfer within the life sciences sector.

The Autumn School provided an excellent opportunity for participants to strengthen their entrepreneurial skills, exchange ideas across disciplines and build new collaborations between academia and industry. By combining scientific excellence with innovation and business expertise, the event supported the development of future technologies with the potential to benefit patients and society.

SaxoCell would like to thank all organizers, speakers, mentors and participants for contributing to the success of the Autumn School 2025. Their commitment and expertise created an inspiring environment for learning, collaboration and innovation.

On 30 April 2025, SaxoCell, in collaboration with the Cluster4Future initiative SEMECO, hosted the 2nd SaxoCell Fuck-Up Night at the Cosmo Wissenschaftsforum in Dresden. The event brought together entrepreneurs, researchers and innovation enthusiasts for an evening dedicated to openly discussing the challenges of entrepreneurship and the value of learning from setbacks.

Three founders shared their personal experiences of building innovative companies and reflected on the obstacles, unexpected turns and difficult decisions they encountered along the way. Jens Geißler (DIA42), Jan Moritz Middeke (Cancilico) and hardware developer Alexander Gürbig (ConnCons) provided honest and insightful accounts of their entrepreneurial journeys, demonstrating that failure is often an essential part of innovation and long-term success.

Following the presentations, participants engaged in lively discussions and exchanged ideas in an informal networking atmosphere. The event encouraged open dialogue about resilience, risk-taking and the importance of fostering a culture in which challenges and setbacks can be discussed constructively.

SaxoCell would like to thank all speakers, participants and partners who contributed to the success of the evening. The SaxoCell Fuck-Up Night once again demonstrated the value of sharing experiences across disciplines and highlighted the importance of openness, collaboration and continuous learning in strengthening Saxony’s innovation ecosystem.

Am 30. April 2025 veranstaltete SaxoCell gemeinsam mit der Cluster4Future-Initiative SEMECO die 2. SaxoCell Fuck-Up Night im Cosmo Wissenschaftsforum in Dresden. Die Veranstaltung brachte Gründerinnen und Gründer, Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler sowie Innovationsinteressierte zusammen, um offen über die Herausforderungen des Unternehmertums und den konstruktiven Umgang mit Rückschlägen zu sprechen.

Im Mittelpunkt des Abends standen die persönlichen Erfahrungen von drei Gründern, die ihre unternehmerischen Wege mit dem Publikum teilten. Jens Geißler (DIA42), Jan Moritz Middeke (Cancilico) und Hardwareentwickler Alexander Gürbig (ConnCons) berichteten ehrlich über unerwartete Wendungen, schwierige Entscheidungen und prägende Erfahrungen beim Aufbau ihrer Unternehmen. Ihre Beiträge machten deutlich, dass Rückschläge häufig ein wichtiger Bestandteil von Innovationsprozessen und unternehmerischem Erfolg sind.

Im Anschluss an die Vorträge bot die Veranstaltung Raum für einen intensiven fachlichen Austausch und persönliche Gespräche in entspannter Atmosphäre. Die Teilnehmenden diskutierten über den Umgang mit Herausforderungen, die Bedeutung einer offenen Fehlerkultur sowie den Wert des gegenseitigen Erfahrungsaustauschs für Wissenschaft, Wirtschaft und Gründungsszene.

SaxoCell bedankt sich herzlich bei allen Referierenden, Gästen und Partnern, die zum Gelingen der Veranstaltung beigetragen haben. Die zweite SaxoCell Fuck-Up Night hat erneut gezeigt, wie wichtig Offenheit, gegenseitiges Lernen und der Austausch unterschiedlicher Perspektiven für die Stärkung des Innovationsstandorts Sachsen sind.

Am 31. März 2025 nahm SaxoCell am hybriden „German Stem Cell Network (GSCN) on Tour“-Meeting in Leipzig teil. Die Veranstaltung brachte führende Wissenschaftlerinnen und Wissenschaftler aus der Stammzellforschung zusammen und bot eine Plattform für den Austausch aktueller Forschungsergebnisse sowie die Diskussion zukünftiger Entwicklungen in der regenerativen Medizin.

Organisiert wurde das Treffen von Prof. Dr. Michael Cross in Zusammenarbeit mit dem German Stem Cell Network (GSCN). Das wissenschaftliche Programm förderte den interdisziplinären Austausch und stärkte die Vernetzung innerhalb der deutschen Stammzellforschung.

SaxoCell war mit mehreren Principal Investigators vertreten, die Einblicke in aktuelle Forschungsarbeiten aus den Bereichen Zell- und Gentherapie gaben. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Köhl (Fraunhofer IZI / Medizinische Fakultät) stellte den SaxoCell-Cluster für Präzisionstherapien in Sachsen vor und erläuterte dessen interdisziplinären Ansatz zur Entwicklung innovativer zellbasierter Therapien. Prof. Dr. Zoltán Ivics (Fraunhofer IZI / Medizinische Fakultät) sprach über aktuelle Herausforderungen und neue Lösungsansätze in der Gentherapie. Prof. Dr. Michael Cross (Klinik für Hämatologie) präsentierte neue Erkenntnisse zum Stoffwechsel hämatopoetischer Stammzellen und dessen Bedeutung für die Blutbildung sowie die Entwicklung neuer Behandlungsstrategien.

Neben dem wissenschaftlichen Programm bot der anschließende Netzwerkempfang den Teilnehmenden die Gelegenheit, sich fachlich auszutauschen, neue Kontakte zu knüpfen und mögliche Kooperationen anzubahnen.

SaxoCell bedankt sich herzlich bei den Organisatoren, Referierenden und allen Teilnehmenden – sowohl vor Ort als auch online – für den gelungenen Austausch. Veranstaltungen wie das GSCN on Tour-Meeting leisten einen wichtigen Beitrag zur Vernetzung der wissenschaftlichen Community und fördern den Fortschritt in der Stammzellforschung, Gentherapie und regenerativen Medizin.

On 31 March 2025, SaxoCell participated in the German Stem Cell Network (GSCN) on Tour hybrid meeting in Leipzig, which brought together leading experts in stem cell research to exchange the latest scientific developments and discuss future directions in regenerative medicine.

The event was organized by Prof. Dr. Michael Cross in collaboration with the German Stem Cell Network (GSCN) and provided a platform for researchers from across Germany to present their work, foster scientific dialogue and strengthen collaborations within the stem cell research community.

SaxoCell was represented by several of its principal investigators, who contributed presentations on key aspects of cell and gene therapy research. Prof. Dr. Ulrike Köhl (Fraunhofer IZI / Faculty of Medicine) introduced the SaxoCell precision therapy cluster, highlighting its interdisciplinary approach to advancing innovative cell-based therapies in Saxony. Prof. Dr. Zoltán Ivics (Fraunhofer IZI / Faculty of Medicine) presented current challenges and emerging solutions in gene therapy, while Prof. Dr. Michael Cross (Department of Hematology) explored recent insights into hematopoietic stem cell metabolism and its relevance for blood cell formation and disease treatment.

In addition to the scientific programme, the networking reception offered participants the opportunity to exchange ideas, discuss potential collaborations and strengthen connections between researchers from different disciplines and institutions.

SaxoCell would like to thank the organizers, speakers and all participants—both on site and online—for contributing to a successful and engaging event. Meetings such as the GSCN on Tour series play an important role in fostering scientific exchange and advancing research in stem cell biology, gene therapy and regenerative medicine.

On 20 June 2025, SaxoCell took part in the Long Night of the Sciences (Lange Nacht der Wissenschaften) at two locations in Saxony: the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (Fraunhofer IZI) in Leipzig and the Center for Regenerative Therapies Dresden (CRTD). Visitors of all ages had the opportunity to learn more about innovative approaches in cell and gene therapy and the research conducted within the SaxoCell Cluster.

Throughout the evening, both exhibition stands attracted a large number of visitors. Interactive activities, hands-on models and educational games helped explain complex scientific concepts such as CAR immune cell therapies and gene therapies in an engaging and accessible way. One of the most popular attractions was the SaxoCell cell quiz, where participants discovered which type of immune cell best matched their personality – from supportive helper T cells and natural killer cells to macrophages.

A special highlight of the evening was the panel discussion “Innovation and Reservations: How Science Shapes Society”, organized together with the Hannah Arendt Institute for Totalitarianism Studies (HAIT). Experts from medicine, ethics and the social sciences discussed why medical innovations often generate both enthusiasm and scepticism, exploring questions of public trust, perceived risks and the societal impact of emerging technologies. The discussion was streamed live to Leipzig, enabling audiences at both locations to participate in the exchange.

SaxoCell would like to thank all colleagues, organizers and partners who contributed to the success of the event, as well as the many visitors whose curiosity and engagement made the evening such a rewarding experience. The Long Night of the Sciences once again demonstrated the importance of dialogue between researchers and the public in fostering understanding and trust in scientific innovation.

On 10–11 March 2025, the DG-GT Theme Day 2025: Genome Editing Towards Therapies brought together leading researchers and clinicians at the German Hygiene Museum in Dresden to discuss the latest developments in genome editing and their translation into future therapies.

The meeting was jointly organized by the German Society for Gene Therapy (DG-GT), TU Dresden, the SaxoCell Cluster and University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus Dresden. The event was spearheaded by SaxoCell spokesperson Prof. Dr. Frank Buchholz and SaxoCell Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Zoltán Ivics, who welcomed experts from academia, clinical research and industry for two days of scientific exchange.

The programme covered a broad range of topics, including high-throughput CRISPR screening, innovative genome editing technologies, novel delivery strategies, clinical applications and the ethical considerations surrounding genome editing. Through keynote lectures, scientific presentations and discussions, participants explored both recent breakthroughs and the challenges that remain on the path towards safe and effective therapeutic applications.

The meeting also highlighted the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in advancing gene and cell therapies. By bringing together expertise from research institutions, clinical centres and industry partners, the event provided an excellent platform for exchanging ideas, fostering new collaborations and accelerating the translation of scientific discoveries into innovative treatments for patients.

SaxoCell would like to thank all speakers, participants and sponsors for contributing to the success of the meeting. Their support and engagement helped create a stimulating scientific environment and underlined the strong collaborative network driving innovation in genome editing and advanced therapies.

On 2 June 2026, the SaxoCell consortium came together at the Penck Hotel Dresden, just ahead of our SaxoCell Conference, for a day of exchange, discussion, and strategic planning.

The meeting was opened by our speakers, followed by valuable insights from Dr. Christiane Püttmann (PtJ), who shared the funding agency’s perspective and highlighted important aspects for the continued development of our activities.

A central part of the agenda was the presentation of our seven R&D projects. Their progress and ideas sparked lively discussions among interested cluster members and our Advisory Board representatives, creating a constructive environment for feedback and further refinement. We also received important updates from SaxoCellutions regarding the planned third funding phase, which is expected to start in October 2027. As a result, preparations for this next stage are already beginning.

The unique atmosphere of the Penck Hotel provided an inspiring setting for the final sessions of the day: the Industry Board Meeting and the Advisory Board Meeting. Discussions focused on strengthening the involvement of industrial partners in both the upcoming funding phase and the association itself. During the Advisory Board Meeting, six of our board members reviewed the SaxoCell projects in depth and shared their valuable feedback with the entire cluster at the end of the event.

Overall, it was an inspiring and highly productive day with excellent presentations, open discussions, and many valuable impulses for the future. The feedback from the Advisory Board also highlighted opportunities for our projects to further sharpen their profiles and maximize their impact as we move towards the next funding phase.

A big thank you to all speakers, project teams, board members, and participants for making this meeting such a success. We are looking forward to the next steps together!

SaxoCell starts its second funding phase
The SaxoCell consortium kicked off the second funding phase with a successful meeting on January 20th and 21st, 2025, at Fraunhofer IZI in Leipzig. In an inspiring and productive gathering, the project teams exchanged ideas about their upcoming three years of research in the field of cell and gene therapy.

During both days, the teams presented their innovative ideas and plans for the further development of the current eight SaxoCell projects. A special highlight of the meeting was the involvement of the project sponsor, Jülich, who provided valuable insights and support for the ongoing implementation of the research projects.

Additionally, a creative Lego Serious Play® workshop, conducted by mikomi – the Institute for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprise Cooperation at the University of Mittweida, allowed participants to develop innovative solutions and strengthen collaboration within the consortium. Another highlight was the inspiring keynote by Prof. Andreas Zaby from the Federal Agency for Disruptive Innovations (SPRIND), which opened up new perspectives on groundbreaking innovations.

Breakthrough in the Treatment of Autoimmune Diseases with CD19 CAR-T Cell Therapy

A major advancement in medicine: for the first time, a novel CD19 CAR-T cell therapy has been successfully used to treat a patient with multi-refractory primary immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). This severe autoimmune disease causes the immune system to destroy platelets, leading to potentially life-threatening bleeding.

The innovative therapy achieved sustained remission in a patient who had exhausted all conventional treatments, including a splenectomy. By specifically eliminating harmful B cells responsible for producing autoantibodies, the CAR-T cell therapy not only normalized platelet levels but also alleviated symptoms and significantly improved the patient’s quality of life—with fewer side effects compared to cancer treatment.

This groundbreaking case study was recently published in The Lancet (January 2025) by a team led by SaxoCell spokesperson Prof. Martin Bornhäuser. The success was made possible through collaboration with Dimitrios Mougiakakis from Magdeburg, an expert in CAR-T therapy for autoimmune diseases, who managed cell collection and reinfusion, as well as Karolin Trautmann-Grill and Malte von Bonin from Dresden, who coordinated patient care and follow-up.

“We have successfully used this therapy in cancer treatment many times before. With the SaxoCell Cluster for Cell and Gene Therapy, we have the ideal conditions to apply our knowledge and expertise to other indications as well,“ explains SaxoCell spokesperson Prof. Frank Buchholz. Despite these promising results, further clinical studies are necessary to evaluate the long-term safety and broader applicability of this therapy.

Salvage treatment of multi-refractory primary immune thrombocytopenia with CD19 CAR T cells – ScienceDirect

https://www.uniklinikum-dresden.de/de/presse/aktuelle-medien-informationen/durchbruch-bei-der-therapie-von-autoimmunerkrankungen-car-t-zelltherapie-erstmals-erfolgreich-bei-der-primaeren-itp-angewendet

Successful Workshop on Automation in Cell and Gene Therapy: SaxoCell Sets Important Impulses

On December 6, 2024, a groundbreaking workshop titled “Automated Production for Cell and Gene Therapy” took place at the DKMS Life Science Lab. Organized by SaxoCell in collaboration with Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen (WFS) and VE.MAS innovativ, the event brought together leading experts in cell and gene therapy as well as Saxon providers of automation solutions.

The goal of the workshop was to identify the potential of automation in cell and gene therapy and to develop new approaches to make the industry more efficient and future-ready. The discussions were so engaging that they extended well beyond the scheduled time. “The enthusiasm and commitment of all participants showed just how strong the spirit of innovation is in this field,” said Stephanie Wieneke from SaxoCell.

A highlight of the event was an exclusive tour of the highly automated DKMS Life Science Lab, where participants gained fascinating insights into cutting-edge laboratory automation, serving as a model for future developments in cell and gene therapy.

“These are exactly the impulses we want to create with SaxoCell to drive the development of the cell and gene therapy sector in Saxony and across Germany,” emphasized SaxoCell. “The combination of scientific expertise and innovative automation solutions offers tremendous potential for growth and progress.”

The organizers announced that the next workshop is already being planned for early 2025. The focus remains on strengthening collaboration within the industry and promoting innovative solutions.

“Saxony is one of the most exciting life sciences regions in Germany” – Thomas Horn in conversation

Saxony is increasingly establishing itself as a leading region for innovations in the life sciences sector. In an interview with Handelsblatt on December 3, 2024, Thomas Horn, Managing Director of Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH (WFS), emphasized the region’s outstanding development and future prospects.

“Saxony is one of the most exciting life sciences regions in Germany,” Horn stated in the discussion. He particularly highlighted the Free State Dresden’s growing significance as a hub for cell and gene therapy, one of the most promising advancements in the healthcare sector.

With innovation clusters like the Cluster4Future SaxoCell and close collaboration between research institutions, universities, and companies, Saxony offers a unique ecosystem for groundbreaking developments in diagnostics and therapy. “We see strong momentum in the region, which excites both scientists and investors,” Horn emphasized.

Supported by targeted funding programs and excellent infrastructure, Saxony is attracting more and more start-ups and established companies from the life sciences sector. Facilities such as BioCity Leipzig and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI) serve as key hubs for networking and advancing innovation.

In addition to its economic and scientific achievements, Horn also praised the region’s international reach. “Saxony is increasingly positioning itself as a global player in the life sciences industry,” he said.

With this positive development, Saxony reinforces its ambition to take a leading role in one of the most important future fields of medicine.

The Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen GmbH supports companies, investors, and research institutions in realizing their projects in the Free State of Saxony. With a focus on industries such as life sciences, mechanical engineering, and electromobility, WFS actively contributes to the region’s economic growth.

https://www.handelsblatt.com/adv/firmen/wirtschaftsfoerderung-sachsen-gmbh.html

Precision Medicine in Focus: Successful 8th Life Science Forum Leipzig brings Science and Industry Together

At the end of November, the 8th Life Science Forum Leipzig took place, bringing together over 80 participants from science and industry to discuss the latest developments and perspectives in precision medicine. Organized jointly by Wirtschaftsförderung Sachsen (WFS) and the SaxoCell Cluster for Future, the event impressively demonstrated the importance of dialogue between research and business for progress in medical precision technology.

Following the opening by Uwe Lienig (WFS) and Stefanie Binder (SaxoCell), participants enjoyed a diverse program featuring high-profile presentations. Highlights included inspiring keynotes by Prof. Dr. Martin Bornhäuser (University Hospital Dresden), Dr. Maximilian Merz (University Hospital Leipzig), and Dr. Thorsten Pisch (Gilead Sciences), offering fascinating insights into the latest advancements and challenges in precision medicine. The program was further enriched by presentations on innovative approaches in diagnostics and therapy, emphasizing practical solutions for the healthcare of the future.

A particularly positive aspect was the active participation of numerous companies from saxony, including Seamless Therapeutics, Cancilico, T Cell Tolerance, DKMS Life Science Lab, and MDTB Cells. These contributions highlight Saxony’s outstanding position as a hub for innovative developments in the life sciences industry.

The venue, BioCity Leipzig, provided the perfect setting for a successful day filled with in-depth discussions, networking, and knowledge exchange. “The Life Science Forum Leipzig has once again proven how essential this regular exchange is for the advancement of precision medicine,” summarized Stefanie Binder from SaxoCell.

The Life Science Forum regularly brings together experts from science and industry to discuss key topics in life sciences and biotechnology. With a focus on current challenges and innovations, the forum serves as a platform for interdisciplinary exchange and networking within the industry.

https://standort-sachsen.de/de/aktuelles/veranstaltungen/detail/e1490-8-life-sciences-forum-sachsen-praezisionsmedizin-von-diagnostik-bis-therapie

Finance Day Celebrates Premiere in Leipzig – Successful Networking of Life-Science Start-ups and Investors

The Finance Day, one of the most important events for start-up, growth, and capital market financing in the life sciences industry for the past 18 years, has opened a new chapter this year: for the first time, the prestigious event was held in Leipzig.

Organized by GoingPublic Media and the Plattform Life Sciences, the Finance Day provided an inspiring platform for promising life science projects and start-ups. In the unique atmosphere of BioCity Leipzig, innovative companies showcased themselves to renowned investors from across Germany.

Particularly notable were the contributions from the SaxoCell Future Cluster, including companies like Seamless Therapeutics, Katana Labs, and Singleron, which presented their groundbreaking technologies and business models. Ulrike Köhl, Cluster spokesperson of SaxoCell, took the opportunity to introduce the future cluster and other partner companies such as Cancilico, T-Cell Tolerance, and T-Curx to a wide audience.

In addition to the exciting pitches from the start-ups, networking and personal exchange were also at the heart of the event. The concluding evening event provided an ideal setting to forge new connections and further deepen the synergies within the industry.

With the first Finance Day in Leipzig, it was impressively demonstrated that the region is becoming a growing hub for innovation and collaboration in life sciences.

For 18 years, the Finance Day has been bringing together companies, investors, and industry experts from the life sciences sector. The goal of the event is to provide founders and start-ups with access to capital providers and thereby promote the development of innovative projects and technologies.

https://goingpublic.events/finance-day-2024-leipzig/