News and press releases

How can cell-based immunotherapies for cancer and autoimmune diseases become more widely available in the long term? The SYNTHIA project is addressing this challenge: The Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research (MPIMR) are collaborating on new research approaches to advance the development of cell-based immunotherapies. The three-year project is funded through the Fraunhofer–Max Planck Cooperation Program.

From September 8 to 11, the floating science center MS Wissenschaft was moored in Würzburg. Its exhibits included a presentation on CAR T-cell therapy developed by the University of Würzburg, Würzburg University Hospital, and Fraunhofer IZI.

Professor Zoltán Ivics, head of the Clinical Gene Transfer Unit at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, has been elected as a new member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO). This membership recognizes his outstanding contributions to molecular and cell biology.

Innovative mRNA-based therapeutics and vaccines offer hope in the fight against cancer, genetic disorders and infections. However, their development and production are complex, slow and difficult to scale. Seven Fraunhofer institutes are working to change this situation. In the RNAuto project, they have now developed an automated, digitally controlled production system that is fast, flexible and cost-effective.

The theme of Science Year 2026 is “Medicine of the Future.” At MS Wissenschaft, the floating science center touring Germany and Austria from May 7 to September 30, this year’s focus is on how researchers are already developing the medicine of tomorrow.

PerioTrap Pharmaceuticals GmbH received the VORSPRUNG Business Prize on May 5. The Fraunhofer IZI spin-off develops microbiome-based solutions for the prevention of gum disease.

Kytopen, T-CURX, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI establish a Center of Excellence to develop advanced, non-viral cell therapies. The Center of Excellence will serve as a hub for innovation in non-viral cell therapy development, focusing on scalable, efficient, and clinically robust manufacturing processes.

As part of the recently concluded strategic partnership between the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI and PlasmidFactory GmbH, the Fresenius-led EASYGEN consortium is appearing as a cooperation partner for the first time. The goal of EASYGEN is to establish a faster, more efficient, and virus-free manufacturing process for CAR-T cells directly at the patients' treatment site. For this purpose, the consortium partners will, among other things, utilize the minicircle technology of PlasmidFactory GmbH.

To accelerate the transition of new cell and gene therapies from research to clinical application, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, Magdeburg University Hospital, and the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI have entered into a strategic partnership.

On February 1, 2026, Dr. Kristin Reiche, Head of the Medical Bioinformatics Department at the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, was appointed Professor of Digital Molecular Medicine at the Interdisciplinary Transformation University (IT:U).