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The quality of the projects was assessed according to the extent to which a decisive development and validation step can be achieved with regard to future economic viability. Already during the application evaluation process, the applicants had the opportunity to discuss their projects intensively with external experts. The following projects in the field of pharmacy, diagnostics and medical devices are funded by the BIH Technology Transfer Fund 2017:

BIH Technology Transfer Fund 2017 for pharmaceutical or diagnostic products

The research group led by Prof. Dr. Matthias Taupitz (Charité) developed an oral drug based on maghemite nanoparticles for the treatment of hyperphosphatemia, which occurs for example in chronic renal failure patients. The next step is to carry out preclinical in vivo target studies to identify the underlying mechanism of action. Prof. Dr.Ulrike Stein (Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité and MDC) is working on a novel combination therapy for the treatment of patients with colorectal cancer who have an increased risk of developing metastases. In the future, the synergistic effect of two active substances is to be tested for the prevention of metastasis in the animal model. The team around Dr. Altuna Akalin (MDC) and collaborators Dr. Adelheid Kratzer and Prof. Dr. Ulf Landmesser (both Charité) plan a proof-of-concept study for a novel diagnostic tool based on circulating cell-free DNA. With the proposed technology, clinicians will be able to diagnose diseases like cardiovascular diseases using circulating cell-free DNA from the blood in a cost effective manner. Dr.Karl Skriner (Charité) has developed a diagnostic method for early detection and a corresponding earlier treatment of rheumatoid arthritis. The next step towards the product is to produce the components of the assay by a certified manufacturer according to the guidelines for in-vitro diagnostics. The test should then be validated on clinical specimens in order to be CE certified.

BIH Technology Transfer Fund 2017 for medical devices

In his project concerning a rare but often fatal autoimmune disease, Dr. Stephen Marino (Experimental and Clinical Research Center, Charité) is planning to specifically remove the causal autoantibodies from the blood of affected patients by apheresis. He plans to produce prototypes of adsorber columns that will be tested for efficacy in blood purification using existing patient materials. The large group of dialysis patients is the focus of the application by Prof. Dr. Markus vanderGiet (Charité). In this project, the expanded use of an already market approved adsorption column for the adsorption of uremia toxin serum amyloid A from the blood of dialysis patients is to be demonstrated. Among other things, these toxins are responsible for a considerable increase in the cardiovascular risk of dialysis patients. A follow-up support to the project funded in 2015 by the BIH Technology Transfer Fund was granted to Dr.Michael Notter (Charité) for the novel CAIROS 4.0 eHealth System targeting increased patient safety of infusion therapies. The manufacturing and initial validation of the prototype intravenous access medical device and the software supported by BIH funds in 2015 shall now be followed by a first clinical evaluation at the Charité. A novel dental implant based on the high-performance material polyetheretherketone is developed further by the biomaterial researcher Prof. Dr.Wolf-Dieter Müller and the oral surgeon Dr.Andreas Schwitalla (both Charité). The researchers want to identify the best surface modification for osseointegration using a sheep model.

New technology transfer unit "Berlin Health Innovations"

From 2018, the Technology Transfer Fund will be integrated into the validation fund of the new technology transfer unit "Berlin Health Innovations". Berlin Health Innovations aims to accelerate the implementation of new biomedical findings and developments of the BIH and the Charité into medical products and services, which increase the success of the treatment and thus contribute to the benefit of patients and society.

Contact

Dr. Klaus Nitschke
Director Berlin Health Innovations (interim), Senior Advisor Digital Health
klaus.nitschke@bihealth.de Saskia Blank
Editor Digital Media
saskia.blank@bihealth.de