UniStem Day 2026 is on 20 March 2026!
Program UniStem Day on 14 March 2025
UniStem Day 2025 in Berlin:
"Lectures a direct hit" - young people impressed by the diversity and depth of stem cell research
220 students visited the MDC.C in Berlin-Buch on March 14, 2025 with one topic in mind: stem cell research. For the 10th time, the German Stem Cell Network GSCN (Dialogue Platform Stem Cell Research BIH) invited biology enthusiasts from all over Berlin to the UniStem Day. The day was packed with information about stem cell research: Sebastian Diecke welcomed the young people in Axon I on behalf of the Max Delbrück Center, while Daniel Besser (GSCN) explained the diversity of stem cell research. Simone Spuler, Max Delbrück Center, then went into real depth, reporting on her research on muscle stem cells and her first clinical studies on muscle cell replacement therapy for childhood incontinence and muscular dystrophies. Highly exciting and understandable at the same time. Sina Bartfeld (TU Berlin) followed with a molecular journey into the structure of the stomach/intestine and the development of intestinal organoids - a subject area that was still new and exciting for many students. Christof Stamm (German Heart Center / Charité) concluded with a lecture on regenerative therapy approaches for the human heart - and captivated the audience with sensational images from his heart operations.
After a break, the students moved on to their workshops - looking at organoids with Ines Lahmann in Mina Gouti's lab, working on gene and cell therapies with Elke Luger, discussing animal experiments with Nadja Daberkow-Nitsche, understanding CripsrCas with Michael Strehle, ethically questioning germline intervention with Hannah Schickl or understanding the rescue of the northern white rhinoceros with Vera Zyvitza and Steven Seet, exploring the biobank with Jürgen Janke and discovering lichens in the park with Uwe Lohmeier. The guided tours by start-ups such as FyoniBio, CARTemis Therapeutics GmbH and Silence Therapeutics for students from secondary biotechnology schools were particularly well received this year - they had a lot to say and ask.
All in all, it was a successful day of intensive research, respectful discussions, molecular depth, visionary scientists and a plus for the young people in terms of insight into scientific diversity.