Leipzig’s Fraunhofer IZI joined forces with other German stakeholders to help draft a strategy paper on gene and cell therapy. The goal: To improve the translation of new research into patient care solutions.

The Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI in Leipzig has been instrumental in developing Germany’s new National Strategy for Gene and Cell Therapies (GCT). Under the auspices of the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research, around 150 experts from various stakeholder groups developed a schedule to strengthen Germany’s position in the field of GCT. The ultimate goal: To improve the translation of new research findings into patient care solutions.
GCT offer promising approaches to the treatment of hitherto incurable illnesses. Although Germany plays a leading role in GCT when it comes to basic research and various technologies, the country also faces specific challenges. For example, it needs consistent technology transfer to ensure that novel GCT make their way to clinical application, i.e. to commercial use. The growing number of GCT clinical studies has led to an increased demand for small and large scale manufacturing capacities. This is where the Fraunhofer IZI brought its extensive expertise in the field of GMP manufacturing to the table – thus helping shape the future of GCT in Germany.