Magdeburg University Medical Center establishes Magdeburg Center for Cell and Immunotherapies (MAZI)
New center brings together expertise in the research, development, and application of innovative cell and immunotherapies for cancer, autoimmune diseases, and infectious diseases.
Magdeburg University Hospital has founded the Magdeburg Center for Cell and Immunotherapies (MAZI), positioning itself in one of the most dynamic and forward-looking fields of modern medicine. The new center will pool existing expertise in research, development, and clinical application of innovative cell and immunotherapies and develop it further in a targeted manner in order to bring new treatment approaches for cancer, autoimmune and infectious diseases into clinical practice more quickly.
New center strategically strengthens Magdeburg as a medical location
The establishment of the center is part of the current target agreement between Magdeburg University Hospital (UMMD) and the state of Saxony-Anhalt, which aims to promote innovative research and the development of modern therapies in the coming years. "The establishment of MAZI strengthens the research capacities of the Faculty of Medicine in a highly topical and forward-looking area of medicine and makes a decisive contribution to raising the profile of Magdeburg University Medical Center, including in the training and qualification of our doctors and scientists of tomorrow. We are thus laying the foundation for bringing innovative therapies from research into application more quickly,“ emphasizes Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Daniela C. Dieterich, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.
”MAZI combines scientific excellence with the direct care of our patients. This enables us to use state-of-the-art cell and immunotherapies at an early stage when conventional treatments are no longer sufficient. At the same time, we are underlining the commitment of Magdeburg University Hospital to consistently combining medical research and clinical practice," explains Prof. Dr. med. Hans-Jochen Heinze, Medical Director at Magdeburg University Hospital A.ö.R.
Photo from left: Prof. Hans-Jochen Heinze, MD, Medical Director at Magdeburg University Hospital A.ö.R, Prof. Daniela C. Dieterich, PhD, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Magdeburg, Prof. Dimitrios Mougiakakos, MD, Director of the University Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy Daniela C. Dieterich, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine in Magdeburg, Prof. Dimitrios Mougiakakos, MD, Director of the University Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy and spokesperson for the new center, and Marco Bohn, Commercial Director at Magdeburg University Hospital A.ö.R. Photographer: Sarah Kossmann
Cell and immunotherapies are considered one of the most promising fields in modern medicine. Therapies such as CAR-T cells or multispecific antibodies are opening up new perspectives in cancer treatment and are increasingly being tested for autoimmune diseases and infections. Supported by the use of artificial intelligence (AI), development is progressing rapidly.
Cell and immunotherapy “Made in Magdeburg”
Magdeburg University Hospital is one of the pioneers in the field of cellular immunotherapy for autoimmune diseases. As one of the first centers worldwide, the UMMD has successfully treated patients with therapy-resistant diseases such as myasthenia gravis (MG) or immune thrombocytopenia (ITP). With the initiation of several clinical studies on CAR-T cell therapy in autoimmune diseases, Magdeburg is one of the few locations in Germany with such a broad and innovative range of therapies. At the same time, the establishment of an infrastructure for the in-house production of genetically modified cellular drugs is being consistently pursued at the site.
“The founding of MAZI is the next logical step in structurally anchoring our successes to date and expanding them sustainably,” explains Prof. Dimitrios Mougiakakos, MD, director of the University Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy and spokesperson for the new center. "MAZI means ‘together’ in Greek, and that's exactly what it's all about: we want to jointly advance research, development, teaching, and training, as well as the translation of innovative concepts into clinical application. In Magdeburg, we have quickly created the conditions necessary to conduct sophisticated studies with cellular therapies. MAZI is now creating a platform that combines basic research, translational strategies, and patient-centered care more closely than ever before, with the aim of giving those affected faster access to highly innovative therapies that go beyond the current standard."
MAZI is creating a campus-wide, cross-departmental, and cross-professional infrastructure and expanding the focus beyond classic T-cell therapies. In addition to CAR-T cells, novel technologies such as CRISPR-Cas and precise treatment approaches such as “treat-to-target” strategies are also at the center of development.
The new center will enable multidisciplinary studies to be conducted, promote quality assurance for new cell products, and support young scientists in this forward-looking field. The interdisciplinary orientation creates ideal conditions for close cooperation with other research institutions at the university as well as with external partners. The aim is to establish a powerful network for joint projects, clinical studies, and industrial collaborations, thereby further strengthening the international visibility of Magdeburg as a research location. Another strategic partner is University Medicine Halle. Cooperation is to be further intensified in the future in order to expand the regional alliance for cell and immunotherapies.
The research is funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the establishment and expansion of the center by the Corona Special Fund of the State of Saxony-Anhalt.
Contact
Prof. Dimitrios Mougiakakos, MD, Director of the University Clinic for Hematology, Oncology, and Cell Therapy, Faculty of Medicine, Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, dimitrios.mougiakakos@med.ovgu.de, Tel.: +49 (0)391 67-13266