Agenda 2024

Malignant brain tumors form organized, communicating cell networks that integrate into the nervous system. Tumor cells interconnect through tumor microtubes and gap junctions, and receive synaptic input from neurons, so that neuronal activity drives proliferation, invasion and resistance to therapy. These properties are inherited from neurodevelopmental programs and constitute a neural blueprint of malignancy. I […]

While we often hear about DNA, RNA is the versatile molecule that could unlock the future of medicine and the secrets of how life began. Our lab’s goal is to build synthetic, self-replicating cells from scratch using custom-engineered RNA “hardware.” Using our design software, we create RNA structures that act as machinerery for these artificial […]

Click chemistry has in many ways transformed the way we think about chemistry. The adventure of the click reaction from first encounter to the Nobel Prize in 2022 will be discussed and illustrated with a number of examples of application in the area of chemical biology. The click utility of the INAIC reaction in conversion […]

Machine learning is having a deep and profound impact on science. A paradigmatic example is that of alpha fold, a code that can predict the equilibrium structure of proteins from their chemical composition. Despite this amazing success the way forward requires a deep understanding of physical processes and innovative approaches. Furthermore, serendipity is the heart […]

The Universe is nearly 14 billion years old. As humans, we exist as sentient beings for tiny fraction of that time. Yet, over centuries, we have succeeded in conceptualising our Universe, discovering the laws of mathematics that describe it and predicting the physics that govern it. In the past 50 years, we have accelerated technological […]

The causes of most neurodegenerative diseases remain elusive. The demonstration that multiple sclerosis (MS) is caused by the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) — a herpes virus that infect over 90% of adults worldwide — has reshaped MS research, which is now focused on discovering how EBV causes MS and on developing preventive vaccines and antiviral treatments. […]

The past decade has seen a significant shift from early targeted therapies to an era of personalized precision medicines, enhanced by a new generation of treatment approaches including immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs), and T cell therapies. These, whether used alone or in combination, have the potential to redefine treatment efficacy. Moreover, the advent of therapeutic mRNA cancer vaccines signifies a move towards fully individualized treatment. These approaches are tailored to each patient’s individual tumor profile and aim to target a spectrum of unique cancer mutations. Complementing this, AI is accelerating and informing the discovery and development of novel medicines, supporting the path towards individualized cancer medicine.

Throughout human history, materials such as metals, glass and ceramics, chemicals, plastics, and fertilizers and have enabled multiple industrial and agricultural revolutions that have profoundly transformed the world. However, the unintended consequence of these revolutions is that the greenhouse gas emissions are changing Earth’s climate. Most of our energy sources, industrial and agricultural chemicals and building materials and are fossil-fuel based or demand process heat. The challenges how to provide clean energy, water, air, food in a world of over 8 billion people and likely to grow to 11 billion by 2100 are formidable. I will discuss new material challenges needed to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions and a more sustainable and prosperous future.

Join us to explore the impact of your external and internal personal brand, leveraging social media, and using tools like myGPT to build your brand. Discover how to authentically communicate your expertise, connect with peers, and advance your career. Uncover the strategies for harnessing the power of your personal brand in the digital age. Don’t miss this opportunity to shape your professional identity and stand out in your field.

Why do editors exist? What does it mean to be a professional editor? What is the significance of innovation and how is it linked to science publishing? How do editors make decisions? Since its launch in 1869, Nature has seen its mission as two-fold: facilitating the prompt communication of the most important scientific developments to the relevant research communities, while at the same time fostering a greater appreciation of these works amongst the wider public. Although the publishing landscape for scientific research is currently undergoing a period of rapid change, these core principles remain largely unchanged. In this workshop professional editors from the Nature portfolio will draw a clear big picture of the whole family of Nature-branded titles, unfolding the behind the scenes of the editorial process and delving into the intricate decision making process that defines the difference between different journals. They will also unveil, with anecdotes and real-life examples, some hidden insights to navigate the landscape of science publishing and exploring innovative solutions towards a more transparent peer-review, including the integration of early career researchers in peer reviewing, the handling of multidisciplinary research, and the open data initiatives that can bring real advantages to researchers and science.

The chemical industry is uniquely positioned to solve the green transformation challenge. While the birthplace of innovation is the laboratory, bridging the gap between laboratory invention and large-scale application is crucial to tackle this challenge. In my keynote presentation, I will illustrate how we speed and scale up sustainable innovations, such as membranes for green hydrogen production, polyurethane recycling, new classes of biosurfactants, and biotechnological CO2 activation.

Can you hack it? Join us at the Curious2024 Hackathon and use your scientific curiosity, working together in teams, to develop innovative solutions on the problem of microplastics in our environment. Seats are limited, please register now here – Confirmation emails will be sent if you are chosen to participate. The 2-day entrepreneurial event starts with a Kickoff session (July 10, 11:00-12:30, Networking Area) where the hackathon topic drops. Then, it’s a race to find a solution as teams participate in a brainstorming session (July 10, 15:00-17:00, Networking Area) to learn how to develop viable solutions and refine them and attend a session on How to Create an Effective Pitch (July 10, 18:15-18:45, Dome 1) to learn how to craft their pitch on day 1. Teams will pitch their solutions in front of a panel of judges on day 2 for cash prizes at the Pitch Presentation (July 11, 14:40-16:40, AMA Circle). A Networking Area will be open to teams during the event.

Modern machines, which are composed of force-generating motors, force sensors, and load-bearing structures, enabled the industrial revolution and are foundational to human civilization. Extreme miniaturization would enable machines that can manipulate molecules for applications in medicine, biological research, and material development. This was previously only a dream, but new synthetic methods to assemble and modify nucleic acids combined with single molecule force spectroscopy have propelled the emergence of a subfield that we call “DNA mechanotechnology”. In this talk, I will discuss my group’s efforts at using DNA mechanotechnology for new types of viral diagnostics and in biomedical applications.

This workshop offers a hands-on experience for medicinal chemists to delve into the application of generative methods for rapidly building novel, synthesizable molecule sets using AI-powered AIDDISON™ drug discovery software. Please bring your laptops.

Are you looking for exciting opportunities to pursue a PhD at the interface of academia and industry? Would you like to work on a PhD project that is committed to improving the health of people worldwide? Are you thrilled about research in tumor biology and immunotherapy or can’t get enough of bioinformatics topics? Then join our workshop to learn about the ATLAS PhD program.

In times of multiple crises which are parallelly ongoing and thus challenging economies and even democracies, it is crucial to continue and foster fact-based discussions and collaborations. Looking at current challenges posed by the climate crisis, this presentation shows how cooperation-based transformation is driven at BASF. Today still being among the top fossil-based energy consumers and CO2 emitters, BASF builds on R&D and partnerships to reduce their carbon footprint to net zero by 2050 and switch to a circular economy.

We imagine reprogramming cells, the smallest units of life, by using synthetic molecules to create functional nanostructures in the cellular environment that can specifically influence or even improve cellular function. Could we teach molecules to recognise cancer cells and form nanostructures that prevent them from cell respiration? Could synthetic nanostructures interact with the cytoskeleton of T cells to change their shape and activate them? Cell therapy has already shown enormous therapeutic breakthroughs. The modification of living cells using intelligent molecular systems could make it possible to equip cells with entirely new structures and functions.

How to create a generally intelligent system? Recently, we embodied biological neurons in a real-time closed-loop system to simulate the classic arcade game, ‘Pong’ and determine if the simple neural systems could learn. Interestingly the learning rates were faster than machine learning and networks showed rapid reorganization that inform us about how brains process information. Moreover, preliminary work supports that this approach provides information previously inaccessible to help improve drug discovery and preclinical pharmacological testing. The data provides compelling insights into the potential value of these systems for wider applications, along with understandings on how to improve this technology further.

Mental disorders are a significant cause of disability worldwide. They profoundly affect individuals’ well-being and impose a substantial financial burden on societies. However, despite decades of extensive research, the effectiveness of current therapeutics for mental disorders is often not satisfactory or well tolerated. Moreover, most novel therapeutic candidates fail in clinical testing, which also brings into question the effectiveness of using animal models in preclinical studies. In this lecture I will present a paradigm shift in the methodologies used to measure animal behavior in laboratory settings.

A general introduction to the European Space Agency (ESA), the European Space Operations Centre in Darmstadt (ESOC), its recent mission highlights, cutting-edge ground systems and future activities. He will also address his long and unique career as one of the astronauts with the longest total times in space worldwide.

For over 75 years, the aim of the Max Planck Society has been to deliver excellent research by providing researchers with trust, generous long-term funding, and support infrastructure. Over the next years, we will continue our mission, open new research fields, and expand our efforts to provide optimal support for the best scientists at all career stages. In my presentation, I will illustrate our approach with the use of examples from different research fields. I will also explain how, in a complex and quickly changing world, scientists can continue to collaborate and build bridges between people. Finally, I will illustrate how basic science can lead to application and contribute to tackling global challenges – and how it can help in the ongoing transformation towards a sustainably future.

The European University of Technology (EUt+) is a consortium consisting of Darmstadt University of Applied Sciences (h_da) and eight other partners from all over Europe, which are among the leading technical, research-intensive universities of applied sciences. EUt+ is committed to offer common European degree programs, promote transnational mobility as well as democratic, civic values and critical thinking for the benefit of our societies. As pioneer EUt+ strives to establish a transnational institution, one European University with campuses from Western to Eastern Europe. A focus will be on the research dimension on h_da and the potentials of a holistic cooperation of EUt+.

Biomedical research is facing an exciting period with a number of major challenges to be addressed. The following areas deserve special attention: (1) New strategies for early clinical proof of concept processes, (2) Transformation of health research and health care towards preventive medicine, (3) Full exploitation of innovative data management approaches towards AI-based precision medicine and prevention, (4) New era of biomedical engineering based on sensor technologies, smart materials, biotechnologies and AI. In his address, Prof. Dr. Otmar D. Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association, will highlight some of these major strategic challenges that need to be overcome: What are adequate institutional framework conditions to master these tasks? How can we explore the potential of cooperations between research, medicine and industry? What role do cutting edge technologies play? Examples for best practise?

We are committed to improving the health of people worldwide by developing immunotherapies utilizing the full potential of the immune system to fight cancer, infectious diseases, and other serious diseases. At BioNTech, we have a legacy of scientific innovation. As pioneers in the field of immunotherapies, we believe that science and innovation can make a difference for humankind. To help ensure that individualized immunotherapies are available to patients, pending regulatory authorization, we are expanding our in-house manufacturing capabilities. Supported by our deep knowledge on mRNA technology expertise and our AI capabilities, we believe we have the capability to scale up quickly. Our goal is to build a fully integrated, global immunotherapy company for individualized mRNA products. Our workshop provides snapshot into our new manufacturing facility. During the workshop, our experts will discuss the challenges of scaling up individualized products.

(Preliminary Abstract) T cells, a type of white blood cells, have become one of the most potent weapon in our arsenal to fight cancer. At academia, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, scientist are moving to new frontiers to make T cells safer, more precise and more potent to make even large established solid tumor melt. At the forefront of this development are autologous and allogeneic CAR-T and TCR-T cell therapies as well as bispecific antibodies and T cell receptors. The first of these therapies are being marketed and more are following in clinical trials with the goal to deliver a meaningful impact on the lives of cancer patients.

The placebo effect presents both a significant challenge and a promising opportunity for the medical world. While often viewed as a confounding factor in clinical trials, obscuring the true efficacy of treatments, it also holds potential as a powerful tool in medicine if properly understood and harnessed. This phenomenon, where patients experience real changes in their health after receiving a treatment with no therapeutic value, underscores the intricate relationship between mind and body, and the impact of expectation on health outcomes. Understanding the mechanisms behind the placebo effect is crucial for minimizing its confounding impact on drug development and for leveraging its beneficial aspects to enhance treatment outcomes. In the workshop, we will focus on the neuronal mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. Identifying these mechanisms not only aids in distinguishing effective drugs from placebo responses in trials but also opens avenues for integrating these insights into more effective patient care strategies. By focusing on how to identify and quantify the placebo effect, the scientific community can refine drug testing methodologies, improve the predictability of clinical trial outcomes, and potentially develop novel therapeutic approaches that incorporate the beneficial aspects of placebo responses.

AI-assisted virtual screening has become vital for the identification of new drug candidates. The use of generative AI tools for the discovery of new materials is rapidly picking up speed. This workshop is meant to bring together enthusiasts from both worlds to collaboratively explore synergies and exchange learnings across the space of leveraging AI to accelerate molecular discovery.

The talk will focus on molecular mechanisms that underlie the dysfunction of intrinsically disordered RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) in neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, FTD and Alzheimer’s disease. Of particular interest are the RBPs TDP-43 and FUS, which are genetically linked to ALS and form aberrant cytoplasmic aggregates in the degenerating brain regions. The talk will provide insights into recently discovered mechanisms that cause RBP mislocalization and aggregation, such as defects in nuclear import, phase separation and molecular aging into amyloids. It will also highlight interdisciplinary research conducted in the Collaborative Research Center SFB1551 on “Polymer concepts in cellular function”.

Advanced drug delivery systems are having an enormous impact on human health. We start by discussing our early research on developing the first controlled release systems for macromolecules and the isolation of angiogenesis inhibitors and how these led to numerous new therapies. This early research then led to new drug delivery technologies including nanoparticles and nanotechnology that are now being studied for use treating cancer, other illnesses and in vaccine delivery (including the Covid-19 vaccine). Finally, by combining mammalian cells, including stem cells, with synthetic polymers, new approaches for engineering tissues are being developed that may someday help in various diseases. These can also serve as a basis for tissues on a chip which can potentially reduce animal and human testing. Examples in the areas of cartilage, skin, blood vessels, GI tract and heart tissue are discussed.

Since our first report on a self-assembled coordination cage in 1995 (Nature, 1995, 378, 469), we and others have been developing the molecular confinement effects of the self-assembled cages. The cavities of our cages are extraordinarily large and are capable of binding neutral guests. Through molecular recognition, new properties, reactions, and functions have been created (Angew. Chem. Int . Ed. 2009, 48, 3418; Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 2021, 94, 2351). One of the recent topics in the course of our study is protein encapsulation in a self-assembled gigantic cage (Chem 2021, 7, 2672).

Defect engineering is an established approach in hard-matter science, most prominently for tailoring electronic, mechanical, and optical properties of semiconductors. By contrast, defect control in soft matter has not yet been largely explored. Whereas strategies to make and functionalize defect-free, well-defined polymeric and colloidal structures have attracted much attention in the past, attempts to classify, assess, and control defects in soft matter are scarce. The collaborative research center SFB 1552 intends to shift this paradigm. We first aim to understand the influence of defects on the structure, dynamics, and properties of polymeric, colloidal, and amphiphilic systems, and secondly we target at comprehensive strategies to control the defect formation and to gain control over the defect structure(s), concentration, and temporal evolution. This shall lead to the development of functional components for soft-matter-based devices in which defects are the actual function givers.

Dial-in information in platform​

We want to jointly explore how AI solutions in healthcare can be transferred from research into clinical application. To make this topic accessible, we will focus on a use case that powerfully demonstrates the potential of AI to improve diagnostics and is of great importance to oncology and the pharmaceutical industry: tissue analytics and AI-enabled digital pathology. Where are we currently regarding usage of AI in diagnostics? Is there a one-size-fits-all solution? What obstacles must be overcome? Is AI just a hype or will it transform pathology and diagnostics? How can the value for oncologists be maximized? Are we about to reinvent cancer care? Starting from these questions and from the impulses provided by leading experts, we cordially invite you to learn and discuss together with the panel and other workshop participants. Our panel of experts offers relevant perspectives from clinics, pharma, research, and technology.

ASAP (https://parkinsonsroadmap.org) seeks to probe the systems, cellular and molecular basis of PD. We focus on disease processes including the genes and proteins implicated in familial forms of PD, the neuroinflammatory processes that may influence disease progression, the neural circuity that feeds into and from dopaminergic neurons, and processes that may predict and precede development of the movement disorder. We have assembled teams of investigators who have developed meaningful collaborations on these key issues, and from these groups we have built an international consortium of interactive investigators who share a vision for open communication of ideas and results.

Proteins mediate the critical processes of life and beautifully solve the challenges faced during the evolution of modern organisms. Our goal is to design a new generation of proteins that address current-day problems not faced during evolution. In contrast to traditional protein engineering efforts, which have focused on modifying naturally occurring proteins, we design new proteins from scratch to optimally solve the problem at hand. Increasingly, we develop and use deep learning methods to design amino acid sequences that are predicted to fold to desired structures and functions. We also produce synthetic genes encoding these sequences and characterize them experimentally. In this talk, I will describe several recent advances in protein design.

The practice of biomedical research is changing dramatically. Over the last two decades, the information technology (IT) revolution has not only enabled new experimental approaches that were previously unthinkable, such as affordable DNA sequencing at an unprecedented scale or rapid cryo-EM determinations of protein structures, but also transformed the way experimental results are stored and published. Although the IT revolution has greatly accelerated progress in most areas of biomedical research, it has also produced serious science integrity challenges. Motivated by personal experiences with some of these challenges, I would like to discuss some of the challenges as I view them from the perspective of a practicing scientist whose primary interest is to support progress in understanding diseases of the brain and to train young scientists for a career as independent researchers.

Following Makoto Fujita’s invited lecture, four of his young colleagues will present the latest hot topics from the Fujita Lab on coordination self-assembly. The topics are as follows: (1) folding and assembly of metal-peptides, (2) protein encapsulation in self-assembled cages, (3) natural product discovery by genome mining, and (4) micro-crystalline sponge method. In each presentation, 10 minute-talk will be followed by a 5-minute discussion. Subsequently, a 10-minute general discussion will be held.

Reticular Chemistry is linking molecular building blocks into crystalline extended structure such as metal-organic frameworks and covalent organic frameworks. Our efforts in using AI tools to identify the best water harvesting from air and carbon capture MOFs and COFs will be presented. Time permitting progress in molecular weaving will be covered.

ScienceFluencers are PhD students and scientists who leverage social media to share their views on cutting-edge research. In an era rife with misinformation, the role of science communication has become paramount, especially considering that 59% of Germans express keen interest in science and research. Recognizing this, the German Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (GBM/Junior-GBM), has undertaken the mission of championing life science communication. Their aim is to empower and amplify the voices of young scientists who share and explain pioneering scientific discoveries. Join us for the 2024 ScienceFluencer Award on the AMA stage!

In his talk, Martin Beck will explain how the capsid containing the viral genome of HIV enters the nucleus during infection. He will use this process as an example to illustrate how we use cellular tomography to visualize the molecular processes happening inside of human cells today, and how in the future, 4D virtual reality will help the next generation of scientists to understand very complex cellular phenomena.

The search for extraterrestrial life is one of the most exciting frontiers in science. First tentative clues were identified close to Earth in the form of the first two interstellar meteors which were tougher than iron, the unfamiliar interstellar object `Oumuamua and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (UAP).The “Galileo Project” ushers the new frontier of “interstellar archeology” in search of extraterrestrial technological relics.

Robots are getting better and better all the time. Their ability to perceive the world around them is improving almost daily, while their bodies and physical skills have advanced by leaps and bounds. But robots are still pretty stupid and lack cognitive intelligence that would make them easier to use, safer to operate with people, and more productive. In this talk Marc Raibert will show some of the recent progress in the development of robots, then talk about using AI to make them smarter and eventually live up to our dreams.

To generate electricity, factories burn coal in the presence of oxygen. However, this process produces toxic pollutants. Similarly, our cells produce energy by burning carbon compounds with oxygen in their mitochondria. Energy production is accompanied by the accumulation of toxic cellular waste and ‘wear and tear’ during aging. Here, I will discuss a novel idea termed ‘energy replacement’ to reduce cellular waste by partially substituting the cellular need for upstream metabolic activities and oxygen consumption with an engineered light-activated proton pump (mtON) in animal mitochondria. This disruptive technology will be the basis for gene therapy in human aging and beyond.

“I’M IN—AI & Health Equity”” workshop, showcasing AI’s vital role in global health equity, featuring the “”My Health In Motion”” initiative by Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany. This project leverages AI for personalized health education, aiming to bridge health literacy gaps. Together with the Economist Impact Group, we’ll tackle: – inclusive AI & Data Representation: Understanding AI biases with diverse data to ensure all communities are fairly represented in healthcare AI. – Bridging the Digital Divide: Offering strategies for AI healthcare access in underserved areas, w/ “”My Health In Motion”” as a key example. – Ethical AI Governance: Discussing ethical standards and privacy in AI healthcare to uphold trust and rights. Featuring interactive discussions, case studies, and strategy sessions, this collaboration between EMD Serono/Merck KGaA and The Economist Impact Group equips participants to address AI challenges in healthcare. Learnings are geared to be applied to global health equity projects, enabling broad advancements in health equity.

We have all heard about DNA, RNA and Proteins… Some of us might even have had our own genome sequenced. But somehow possessing this information is not yielding the solutions we have been hoping for. More recently, a rather basic phenomenon has been discovered, revealing that there is much more to biomolecules than anticipated. In this workshop, over lunch time, we will not only offer you some salad dressing and wiggly spaghetti but will reveal how these same items can exemplify the game-changing phenomenon that is shedding light into molecular basis of cellular dysfunction in aging and disease. If this is not enough to sparkle your curiosity, then how about we tell you we can have you walk on “water”? Join us if you dare!

Interested in learning more about how to publish your next book? Curious how Springer Nature envisions the future of book publishing? Join the Springer Nature’s Book Publishing and Innovation workshop to hear about the 5 easy stages in the publishing process, the latest AI author services, and how we have helped many authors, just like you, publish a book to communicate their ideas to a global audience. Our chemistry book portfolio will also be introduced, followed by a Q&A session to answer all your book publishing questions.

Disease modelling and drug screen in vitro requires viable models that physiologically capture the key processes and functions of the tissue or organ it proposes to model. To do this in a meaningful manner, neural systems require tightly coupled information flows both in and out of the system. Current in vitro models typically provide no structured stimulation to cultured neural cells, with previous state-of-the-art using spontaneous activity or very simple evoked activity as a functional outcome. Yet, the active function of a neuron is not merely to fire action potentials, but to process structured information and alter activity in meaningful ways. In this workshop we will explore current methods used for in vitro neural drug screening and disease modelling along with future assays that could be utilized to better explore and predict clinical outcomes. Participants will have a chance to participate in designing a new simulated environment for drug testing and disease modelling.

This talk embarks on a succinct journey exploring the multifaceted usefulness of science. From ancient Greece to the present, I examine how the utility of science has evolved, affecting its creators, users, and the discipline itself. I’ll traverse three pivotal historical stages to uncover how past interpretations shape our current perspective and future potential. This exploration is not merely retrospective but a forward-looking quest, reinvigorating our understanding of science’s role in personal fulfillment and societal advancement. Join me for a reflection on science’s enduring impact and its transformative journey through history.

Thoughts and emotions can impact physiology. This connection is evident in the emergence of disease following stress, or recovery in response to placebo treatment. Nevertheless, our understanding of this fundamental aspect of physiology is still very limited. In this talk, I will discuss how the brain represents the state of the immune system and how brain activity can regulate peripheral immunity to promote recovery from infections or cancer. On the other hand, the brain can induce disease and psychosomatic disorders, and gaining an understanding of the underlying mechanisms has the potential to introduce new therapeutic avenues utilizing the brain’s therapeutic potential.

For decades we’ve believed that while machines can automate, they could never truly create. Yet, the explosion of generative AI has upended that assumption, confronting us with a new kind of uncanny valley in which human creativity and knowledge seems to be losing to that of computers. This talk contextualizes the sudden surge in generative models in the history of the internet and underscores the criticality of human expertise in creating trustworthy models.

Cognitive robots need to perceive their environment to act in a goal-directed way. We developed efficient methods for environment perception, based on local multiresolution representations, deep learning, and object-centered representations. The resulting models form the basis for locomotion and manipulation planning, for which we developed efficient methods. My team integrated perception and planning for autonomous control of multiple cognitive robots and demonstrated their abilities in complex environments, including humanoid soccer, domestic service, space exploration, disaster-response, bin picking, and industrial inspection. I will discuss ideas on how structured models for efficient perception and planning can be learned from limited experience.

TRON is an independent non-profit translational research organization that develops cutting-edge technologies to target diseases with high medical needs such as infectious or cardiovascular diseases, autoimmunity and cancer. We combine transdisciplinary competencies in genomics, immunology and bioinformatics to develop novel approaches to be used in personalized therapies. At the interface of academia and industry, TRON executes research at the leading edge to support innovative drug design for human health.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) represents a major, growing public health burden due to ageing populations, but also climate change. The BMBF-funded future cluster curATime develops innovative therapeutics, and diagnostic and prognostic tools for CVD. curATime combines the latest biotechnological approaches with artificial intelligence-driven research. New targets are identified and evaluated by integrating cutting-edge preclinical models with multi-level biodatabases with long-term follow-up of humans. A web-based platform is designed to facilitate complex biodata analyses and novel AI tools are developed to handle computational challenges. This is the fundament for innovative pharmacological interventions including locoregional RNA-based applications.

Photovoltaic cells using molecular dyes, semiconductor quantum dots or perovskite pigments as light harvesters have emerged as credible contenders to conventional devices. They possess unique practical advantages in particular highly effective electricity production from ambient light, ease of manufacturing, flexibility and transparency, bifacial light harvesting, and aesthetic appeal, which have fostered industrial production and commercial applications. They engendered perovskite solar cells (PSCs) which are a leading future PV technologies, their efficiency having reached 26.1 %. My lecture will cover our most recent findings in these revolutionary photovoltaic domains that relate to the production of electricity and fuels from sunlight.