Tradition and Innovation: Celebratory foundation of the association “Stammzellnetzwerk.NRW”

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Stem cell research has been an important aspect of North Rhine-Westphalia’s portfolio for many years, ranging from cutting-edge biomedical research to the promotion of excellent young scientists, transdisciplinary cooperation on current issues, and political as well as social dialogue. The former Stem Cell Network North Rhine-Westphalia has contributed significantly to this. 

At the official formation of the association, which took place at Schloss Mickeln in Düsseldorf, Germany, state secretary Annette Storsberg (MKW) emphasized that stem cell research from NRW belongs to the world’s leading sciences and praised in her welcome address the network’s contribution to the international visibility of stem cell research from NRW. Furthermore, she highlighted the role of the network towards the development of therapies and stressed the importance of stabilizing the Stem Cell Network NRW. Moreover, she pointed out that the network recognized the need for transdisciplinary interaction 16 years ago already and characterized it as a prototype for interdisciplinary networks. Now the science ministry has taken a groundbreaking decision and, subject to the budgetary decision of the parliament, will continue to financially support the Stem Cell Network NRW as an institution from next year onward.

Therefore, on September 5, 2018, the rectors, presidents, medical directors or their representatives, such as vice-rectors and chancellors, met at Schloss Mickeln in Düsseldorf to jointly found the association “Stammzellnetzwerk.NRW e.V.”. Before the official formation of the association, Prof. Dr. Oliver Brüstle presented the aims for this new phase of the network and specifically emphasized the challenges of transferring research results into clinical application. Subsequently, Prof. Dr. Peter Horn and Prof. Dr. Dieter Sturma looked back on 16 eventful years and pointed out important events in the history of the Stem Cell Network NRW, such as the funding of junior research groups (in cooperation with the ministry). Several of the former research group leaders have by now become professors. Two of those who were supported at that time were present in person and impressively described how the funding has influenced their careers. Furthermore, Prof. Dr. Dr. Wolfgang Wagner decided, despite promising offers from other universities, to stay at the RWTH Aachen University and as one of the main reasons he mentioned the expanded and well-established stem cell network in North Rhine-Westphalia. Prof. Dr. Frank Edenhofer became a professor at the University of Innsbruck, where he was mainly involved in setting up a network structure based on the well-working model he knew from NRW, and now is the founding president of the Austrian Stem Cell Network. In the last talk of the ceremony, Dr. Bernward Garthoff, cluster manager of BIO.NRW, gave interesting suggestions for a successful transformation process.

Prof. Dr. Oliver Brüstle was elected as the chairman of the newly founded association and noted that, especially in view of global health challenges, there are high expectations regarding the very dynamic field of stem cell research. “To face this challenge, the long-term support of the Stem Cell Network NRW is of elementary importance. In addition to the continuation of the previous, successful structure, one of our crucial new tasks will be to efficiently transfer findings from basic research into future applications. The Stem Cell Network will be able to act as a catalyst to support this process,” emphasized Professor Brüstle.

Particularly valuable for this process is the network’s unique selling point, the close link between biomedical research and the humanities, law, and social sciences, which has always played a major role since the foundation of the network and “will be intensified in the future,” as the philosopher Prof. Dr. Dieter Sturma (member of the board) emphasized.

Starting in 2019, the newly founded association will seamlessly continue the tasks of the former Stem Cell Network NRW. To learn more about the new structure and to see who the founding members of the association are please see article “New formal structure of the Stem Cell Network North Rhine-Westphalia,” which is part of this newsletter edition.

See our gallery for more impressions from the founding event.

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