National GCT Program
Project Funding within the Framework of the National Strategy
The Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) commissioned the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) in 2023 to develop a National Strategy for Gene and Cell-Based Therapies (GCT). Around 150 experts from various stakeholder groups collaborated to create the paper and develop a roadmap to improve healthcare and strengthen Germany's position in the field of gene and cell-based therapies. These innovative therapies offer promising possibilities for treating severe and rare diseases, as they are tailored to individual patients.
The measures of the National Strategy aim, among other things, to accelerate the translation of research results into clinical practice and to strengthen Germany's international competitiveness in the field of GCT. Two specific funding formats have already been initiated: Firstly, targeted project funding according to the SPARK method recognizes and promotes projects based on their translational value. Secondly, a novel national tandem program supports the development of know-how and the national and sectoral networking of research-active clinical and non-clinical scientists.
National GCT Call
Project Funding according to the SPARK Method
Individual or collaborative projects are funded in two tracks: Track 1 supports early-stage individual projects with up to 50,000 euros for a duration of one year. Track 2 is intended for more advanced projects that have already filed an invention disclosure or patent. These can be funded on a larger scale with more than 50,000 euros for a maximum of two years.
In line with the SPARK method developed at Stanford University, detailed work plans are developed for funded projects. The selected teams participate in the SPARK-BIH program and receive milestone-based funding as well as comprehensive project-specific advice from an interdisciplinary network of experts, access to the Global SPARK Network, and targeted educational offerings in the form of workshops and webinars on the topics of translation and entrepreneurship.
Applications for Track 1 are already closed. Applications for Track 2 are due on March 24, 2025, at 1:00 PM
More information:
in German
in English
Please apply via PT outline: here
Contact:
Dr. Tanja Rosenmund, MBA
Director SPARK-BIH
Email: tanja.rosenmund@bih-charite.de
Email: gct-project-funding@bih-charite.de
Funded Projects
Gene therapy targeting neuroinflammation in AD
Dr. rer. hum. biol. Dr. med. Sergio Castro-Gomez
Center for Neurology / Institute of Physiology II
University Hospital Bonn
Cohort: Track 1 2024
Project Summary
Safety of genome editing as therapy for autosomal dominant osteopetrosis
Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Uwe Kornak
Institute of Human Genetics
Georg-August-University Göttingen
Cohort: Track 1 2024
Project Summary
Reference Material for Mesenchymal Stromal Cell Critical Quality Attribute Assays
Prof. (apl.) Dr. rer. nat. Karen Bieback
Cell and Immune Therapy
Institute of Transfusion Medicine and Immunology, FlowCore Mannheim,
Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University
Cohort: Track 1 2024
Project Summary
Gene-edited CD38/CD45-CAR-NK cells for leukemia treatment and non-toxic conditioning
Prof. Dr. Boris Fehse
Research Dept. Cell & Gene Therapy, Dept. of Stem Cell Transplantation
University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Cohort: Track 1 2024
Project Summary
RNA-Based Delivery of Prime Editors targeting MYO5B Deficiency
Prof. Dr. med. Tobias Cantz
Dept. of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Infectious Diseases and
Endocrinology: RG Translational Hepatology and Stem Cell Biology
Hannover Medical School
Cohort: Track 1 2024
Project Summary
Development of a nanobased mRNA therapy for heart diseases
Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Georg Daniel Dürr
Department of Cardiovascular Surgery
University Medical Center Mainz (Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz)
Cohort: Track 1 2024
Project Summary
Bridging deep gaps in translation and tissue: a blueprint for TEP development from a corneal sealer
Consortium coordinator:
Dr. rer. nat. Anna Resch
Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences
Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology
Albert-Ludwigs University of Freiburg
Cohort: Track 2 2024
Project Summary
Enhancing Cellular Therapy for B-Cell Neoplasms
PD Dr. med. Antonia Busse
Department of Hematology, Oncology and Cancer Immunology | CBF
Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Cohort: Track 2 2024
Project Summary
Preparation of a clinical trial of CAR-NK cells in patients with Her2-expressing tumors
Consortium coordinator:
Prof. Dr. med. Torsten Tonn
Transfusion Medicine and molecular. Hematology
Goethe University Frankfurt/M
Cohort: Track 2 2024
Project Summary
All-in-One Genome Editing Therapy for the Treatment of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Consortium coordinator:
Prof. Dr. med. Wolfram-Hubertus Zimmermann
Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology
University Medical Center Göttingen
Cohort: Track 2 2024
Project Summary
Innovation in AML Treatment
Consortium coordinators:
Prof. Dr. Toni Cathomen | Prof. Dr. med. Evelyn Ullrich
Institute for Transfusion Medicine & Gene Therapy | Personalized Immune Cell Therapy
Medical Center – University of Freiburg | Goethe University Frankfurt
Cohort: Track 2 2024
Project Summary
Clinical-grade manufacturing of NY-ESO-1 TCR-modified stem-like T cells overexpressing the pre-miR-155 SNP, rs377265631
Consortium coordinator:
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Herr
Internal Medicine III (Hematology and Internal Oncology)
University Hospital Regensburg
Cohort: Track 2 2024
Project Summary
