SPARK Active Projects

Pharma

Expansion of natural killer cells for viral infection and cancer
Oncology & Infectious Disease
Contact person: Dr. Timo Rückert, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2023
Project summary

Combination strategies for rational drug targeting of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC)
Oncology
Contact person: Hazal Köse, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2023
Project summary

Oxytocin-augmented group psychotherapy for patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders
Psychiatry
Contact person: Dr. Marco Zierhut, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2023
Project summary

Restoring immune balance in NMOSD patients with a tolerogenic vaccine
Neuroimmunology
Contact person: Dr. Maria Hastermann, Charité, DZNE
Cohort: Track 1 2022, Track 1 2023
Project summary

A novel treatment to prevent endothelial lesions and thromboinflammation in ischemic stroke
Neurology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Volker Haucke, FMP Berlin
Cohort: NeuroCure 2022
Project summary

Particle-mediated transport of a dissolved active agent into the hair follicles
Dermatology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Martina Meinke, Charité & Philipps-Universität Marburg
Cohort: Track 2 2022
Project summary

Novel peptide-based drug for the treatment of fibrosis
Ophthalmology
Contact person: Prof. Uwe Pleyer, Charité & Universitätsmedizin Rostock  
Cohort: Track 2 2022
Project summary

Novel treatment against atherosclerotic vascular diseases
Cardiovascular
Contact person: Dr. Ing. Szandor Simmons, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2022
Project summary

ATMP

Development of T-cell receptors (TCR) for the adoptive T-cell therapy (ACT) of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC)
Oncology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. med. Sebastian Ochsenreither, Charité
Cohort: Track 1  2023
Project summary

Precision therapy for neurological autoimmune diseases
Neurology & Autoimmunity
Contact person: Dr. Niels von Wardenburg, Charité
Cohort: Track 2  2023
Project summary

Isolation of high avidity cancer-specific TCRs directed against an HLA-A2 restricted epitope of MAGE-B16
Oncology
Contact person: PD Dr. Antonia Busse, BIH/Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2022
Project summary

Nemo: Next Generation Therapy for Skin Diseases
Dermatology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Sarah Hedtrich, BIH/Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2022
Project summary | Podcast

Preclinical evaluation of a novel ATMP as „off-the shelf” CAR product for precision immunotherapy of cancer
Oncology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Gabriele Pecher, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2022
Project summary

Generation and preclinical evaluation of neuroblastoma-specific CAR constructs
Oncology
Contact person: PD Dr. Annette Künkele-Langer, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2021
Project summary

MedTech

Fillable Hybrid Scaffolds for the treatment of critically-sized bone defects
Surgery
Contact person: Jacob Spinnen MD/PhD, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2023
Project summary

Puringe: Pure syringe system for contamination-free storage, transport and injection of therapeutics
Ophthalmology
Contact person: Felix Hehnen, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2023
Project summary

Development of a solid organ stapling device
Surgery
Contact person: Dr. Panagotis Fikatas, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2017, Track 2 2019, Track 1 2021, Track 2 2023
Project summary

Safety and performance testing in a full-scale novel oxygenator
Cardiology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Leonid Goubergrits, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2023
Project summary

A novel solution for a total artificial heart
Cardiology
Contact person: Tim Bierewirtz, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2019, Track 2 2020
Project summary

GrOwnValve – Anchoring mechanism for a personalized, autologous heart valve for children
Cardiology
Contact person: PD Dr. Boris Schmitt, Charité
Cohort: I4H 2019, Track 2 2019
Project summary | Website

Prototype construction of stapler for biliary and pancreatic anastomosis
Surgery
Contact person: Dr. Panagiotis Fikatas, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2021
Project summary

Digital Health

MyaLink - digital plattform to monitor rare diseases
Neurology
Contact person: Dr. Sophie Lehnerer, Charité
Cohort: NeuroCure 2022
Project summary

Integrated Software Platform for monitoring, quality measurement and SOPs in deep brain stimulation therapy
Neurology
Contact person: Jasper Mecklenburg, Charité  
Cohort: NeuroCure 2022
Project summary

Diagnostic

Single-cell sequencing of urine cells as transformative diagnostic for kidney diseases 
Nephrology
Contact person: PD Dr. Philipp Enghard, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2023
Project summary

Predictors for Chemotherapy induced polyneuropathy identified with mass spectrometry 
Neurology
Contact person: PD Dr. Petra Hühnchen, Charité
Cohort: NeuroCure 2022
Project summary

SPARK Alumni Projects

Pharma

In vivo validation of a novel class of pain medication
Pain
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Christoph Stein, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2019
Project summary

Screening for novel modulators that restore synaptic signaling in human iPSC-derived neurons from SYNGAP syndrome patients
Neurology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Dietmar Schmitz, Charité
Cohort: NeuroCure 2020
Project summary

Novel therapy for neuromuscular disease caused by mutations in myotubularins
Neurology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Volker Haucke, FMP
Cohort: NeuroCure 2020
Project summary

Prevention of Paclitaxel-related neurotoxicity
Neurology
Contact persons: Prof. Dr. Matthias Endres, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2018, Track 2 2020
Project summary | Flyer zu PREPARE-Studie 

Expansion of natural killer cells for viral infection and cancer
Oncology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Chiara Romagnani, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2018, Track 1 2020
Project summary

Inhibition of thyroid hormone inactivation for cancer treatment
Oncology
Contact person: Dr. Kostja Renko, BfR
Cohort: Track 1 2018
Project summary

Treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer
Oncology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Ulrike Stein, MDC
Cohort: Track 2 2018
Project summary

Validation of anti-cancer agents in patient-derived canceroids
Oncology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Reinhold Schäfer, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2019
Project summary

Drug discovery for mitochondrially inherited Leigh syndrome (MILS)
Neurology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Alessandro Prigione, UKD
Cohort: Track 1 2018
Project summary

A novel peptide to regenerate the central nervous system
Neurology
Contact person: Dr. Sarah-Christin Starossom, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2019
Project summary

Affinity matrix for antigen-specific depletion of plasma cells secreting pathogenic autoantibodies
Immunology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Falk Hiepe, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2016
Project summary

Novel drugs strengthening endogenous immuno-regulatory processes
Immunology
Contact person: Stefan Frischbutter, PhD, DRFZ
Cohort: Track 1 2017
Project summary

Development and optimization of novel small molecules to treat metabolic syndrome
Metabolic
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Gary Lewin, MDC
Cohort: Track 1 2017, Track 2 2018

MC4R agonist treatment of patients with monogenic obesity
Metabolic
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Peter Kühnen, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2018
Project summary | Podcast

New treatment strategies by targeting the inflammasome
Dermatology
Contact person: PD Dr. Karoline Krause, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2015, Track 1 2018, Track 2 2018
Project summary

Lead optimization of STOML3 inhibitors for the treatment of neuropathic pain
Pain
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Gary Lewin, MDC
Cohort: Track 1 2015
Project summary

Inhibitors of ribosome assembly
Infectious Disease
Contact person:  Dr. Rainer Nikolay, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2016
Project summary

Exploring a novel therapeutic target in cystic fibrosis
Pulmonology
Contact person: Dr. Anita Balázs, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2019
Project summary

Novel compounds to treat excessive water loss in states of dysfunctional vasopressin-mediated water reabsorption
Cardiology
Contact person: PD Dr. Enno Klussmann, MDC
Cohort: Track 1 2020
Project summary

A universal platform for the discovery of new therapeutic modalities
Oncology
Contact person: Dr. Yollete Guillén Schlippe, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2021
Project summary

Combinatorial treatment against metastatic colorectal cancer
Oncology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Ulrike Stein, MDC/Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2020
Project summary

Validation of a consensus DNA sequence for vaccination against pandemic coronaviruses (PanCoVac)
Immunology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Günther Schönrich, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2020, Track 2 2021
Project summary

ATMP

Development of a platform for the isolation of T cell receptors for cancer immunotherapy
Oncology
Contact person: Dr. Felix Lorenz, MDC
Cohort: Track 1 2015
Project summary | Podcast

TCR gene therapy of CD22-positive B cell malignancies
Oncology
Contact person: PD Dr. Antonia Busse, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2018
Project summary

A novel advanced therapy medicinal product (ATMP) to treat solid tumors
Oncology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Gabriele Pecher, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2019
Project summary

Gene therapy for the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy
Neurology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Regine Heilbronn, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2018
Project summary

MyoPax: We repair muscle – the human muscle stem cell
Stem Cells
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Simone Spuler, MDC/Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2016, Track 2 2018
Project summary | Website | Podcast

A novel gene therapy for treatment of aggressive B cell Lymphoma
Oncology
Contact person: PD Dr. Antonia Busse, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2019
Project summary

Off-the-shelf chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) product with broad applicability for malignant diseases
Oncology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Gabriele Pecher, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2020
Project summary

A modular allogeneic CAR-NK cell therapy that targets cancer and its tumor microenvironment
Oncology
Contact person: Dr. Dimitrios-Laurin Wagner, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2022
Project summary

CD5-specific TCR-T cells for treatment of relapsed or refractory T cell neoplasms
Oncology
Contact person: PD Dr. Antonia Busse, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2021
Project summary

A virus-free platform technology for next-generation CAR therapeutics
Oncology
Contact person: Dr. Dimitrios Laurin Wagner, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2021
Project summary

Infection based large scale production platform for rAAV gene therapy vectors
Gene Therapy
Contact person: PD Dr. Stefan Weger
Cohort: Track 2 2021
Project summary

MedTech

FiXatas - Ready-to use surgical knots
Surgery
Contact person: Dr. Panagiotis Fikatas, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2016, Track 2 2018
Project summary | Website

Neural mapping using transcranial magnetic temporal interference stimulation
Neurology
Contact person: Khaled Nasr, Charité
Cohort: NeuroCure 2020
Project summary

ALARM – A viral alert realtime monitoring
Infectious Disease
Contact person: Michael Lommel, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2021
Project summary

Hemocompatibility of the novel oxygenator
Cardiology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Leonid Goubergrits, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2022
Project summary

Digital Health

DiaperID - a medical APP for smart stool recognition and newborn screening for biliary atresia
Pediatrics
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Philip Bufler, Charité
Cohort: I4H 2020
Project summary

Appsy - Antidepressant medication companion
Psychiatry
Contact person: Dr. Constantin Volkmann, Charité
Cohort: I4H 2020
Project summary

AI supported quantitative assessment of aortic valve calcification
Cardiology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Anja Hennemuth, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2020
Project summary

Predicting post-operative complications in real-time
Surgery
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Alexander Meyer, Charité
Cohort: Track 2 2018
Project summary | Website

Image-based support of minimal-invasive mitral valve repair
Cardiology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Anja Hennemuth, Charité
Cohort: Track1 2018
Project summary

Pre-Education - Patient empowerment through automated digital education of gynaecological patients on the course of treatment
Other
Contact person: Dr. Jessica Olschewski, Charité
Cohort: I4H 2019
Project summary

SatTyping: A software-based typing of regenerative stem cells towards resource-saving and efficient production of ATMPs
Stem Cells
Contact person: Dr. Verena Schöwel-Wolf, MDC/Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2020
Project summary

RadioEye - A unique diagnostic decision support tool for radiologists
Radiology
Contact person: PD Dr. Katharina Erb-Eigner, Charité
Cohort: I4H 2020
Project summary

Diagnostic

Validation of RNA as Biomarkers and Potential Therapeutic Target in Alzheimer Dementia Patients
Neurology
Contact person: PD Dr. Peter Körtvélyessy, Charité
Cohort: NeuroCure 2022
Project summary

Validation study for cervical HPV and dysplasia screening test
Oncology
Contact person: PD Dr. Andreas Kaufmann, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2017, Track 2 2018
Project summary

BodyTime - A new diagnostic tool to assess the internal clock
Chronobiology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Achim Kramer, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2017
Project summary | Website

TimeTeller: A non-invasive method for the molecular and computational characterization of the internal biological clock in humans
Chronobiology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Angela Relógio, Charité
Cohort: I4H 2019
Project summary

Flurinocyte - urine flow cytometry as biomarker for renal diseases
Nephrology
Contact person: PD Dr. Philipp Enghard, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2017
Project summary

Prediction and prevention of congestive events in heart failure patients
Cardiology
Contact person: Dr. Alessandro Faragli, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2018
Project summary

Molecular imaging of biofilm infections - Validation of FISH controls for automated endocarditis diagnostics
Immunology
Contact person: Prof.  Dr. Annette Moter, Charité
Cohort: Track 1 2018
Project summary

Biomarkers for tumor immune therapy associated neurological side effects
Neurology
Contact person: Prof. Dr. Matthias Endres, Charité
Cohort: NeuroCure 2020
Project summary

SPARK Booklet

The SPARK-BIH program in Berlin was founded in 2015. Since 2015, more than 68 projects have been supported with mentoring, advice and an extensive network.

+++ We are happy to share the SPARK-BIH Booklet with more detailed information about the SPARK-BIH program, our SPARKees and their translational projects. +++

 

 

SPARK-BIH is a member of the SPARK Global network