The transition from the laboratory to the first use in humans is particularly complex in the field of cell therapies. In addition to the costs of an early-phase clinical trial, there are expenses associated with manufacturing under cleanroom conditions and obtaining regulatory approvals. This is where the center comes in. It connects research groups in hematology and oncology, clinical pharmacology, transfusion medicine, and ophthalmology with the facilities required for a clinical trial—including the Early Clinical Trial Unit, the Clinical Study Center, and the cell therapy manufacturing unit in transfusion medicine.

Key areas of focus include new CAR-T cell approaches, particularly for acute myeloid leukemia, the safety of cell and immunotherapies, and gene therapy for retinal diseases. At the Eye Clinic, Prof. Dr. Stylianos Michalakis’s group is working on gene therapies designed to restore patients’ vision.

CAR-T cells have revolutionized cancer medicine. A living drug is used as a therapy, and some diseases for which there was previously no hope of a cure are now curable in some patients.

The center’s research is focused on the next generation: greater efficacy, better tolerability, and the application of this principle to solid tumors, severe autoimmune diseases, and hereditary disorders.

To this end, the center operates on multiple levels, from the identification of new target structures through product design to clinical trials. A central component is reverse translation: clinical observations and patient samples are returned to the laboratory, where they help define the next research question.

The center sees itself as a translational hub. Manufacturing, regulatory development, study infrastructure, and follow-up care are available to all research groups on site, from the initial idea through to an approved therapy.