Berlin Boosts Gene and Cell Therapy Innovation Hub
Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies : View from Nordhafen on the planned building - © Bayer AG
In a move to cement Berlin's status as a leading hub for science, innovation, and technology, the city's Senate has approved a €9.8 million grant to establish the new Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies. This collaborative project between the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG aims to accelerate the translation of scientific discoveries into effective clinical therapies.
According to information from the Berlin Senate's press release, the planned translational center will serve as a key project for the city's healthcare, biotechnology, and research sectors. By providing state-of-the-art laboratory and production facilities, the center will offer targeted support to young biotech companies working on the development of advanced gene and cell therapies.
"With the Berlin Center for Gene and Cell Therapies, Charité and Bayer are creating a place in the heart of the city that will further strengthen Berlin's position as a leading hub for science, innovation, and technology," said Kai Wegner, the Governing Mayor of Berlin. "The center will bundle outstanding research and development and accelerate the implementation of scientific findings into effective therapies."
The new 5,000-square-meter facility will house fully-equipped labs and office spaces for up to 20 biotech startups, complemented by a GMP-certified production plant to support the transition to clinical trials and cover the entire translation process.
"With the center for gene and cell therapies, we are creating a unique place for research and development that will secure Berlin a leading position in the international biotechnology landscape," said Franziska Giffey, the Senator for Economics, Energy and Public Enterprises. "But more importantly, this center will help to cure previously incurable diseases."
