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The BIH bids farewell to Prof. Dr. Ulrich Dirnagl as a driving force behind trustworthy and useful research
The Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH) bids farewell to Prof. Dr. Ulrich Dirnagl, honoring him as a central driving force for trustworthy and useful research upon his retirement. The internationally recognized stroke researcher and advocate of responsible science has shaped the biomedical profile of Charité and the BIH for more than three decades. His motto “To infinity, and beyond” aptly captures the foresight, creativity, and persistence with which he has advanced science.
Dirnagl made pioneering contributions to understanding the biological mechanisms of stroke, paving the way for new therapies now undergoing clinical trials. From 1999 to 2022, he served as founding director of the Department of Experimental Neurology at Charité, consistently advocating for translation and quality in biomedical research.
Programs and Structures for Innovation
In 2015, together with Craig Garner, he launched SPARK-BIH, a program supporting the transfer of life science discoveries into tangible applications, now considered a driving force for translation in Berlin. In 2017, he founded the QUEST Center, which grew from a small unit into an internationally networked center with around 70 employees. The QUEST Center consists of dedicated teams that conduct meta-research and create tools and programs to help researchers and system actors improve the robustness, openness, and clinical relevance of science.
Dirnagl also played a key role in implementing new structures for research quality in other contexts. He was instrumental in securing the NeuroCure Excellence Cluster in 2007, embedding translation and open science principles within it. Moreover, he actively contributed to the Berlin University Alliance’s priority initiative “Advancing Research Quality and Value.”
A Critical Voice with Humor
Beyond his scientific work, Dirnagl gained a reputation as a keen observer of the research system. In his monthly column “Insights of a Science Fool” in Laborjournal, later published as a book, he analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of modern science with wit and acuity, proposing ideas for much-needed change.
Through all these initiatives, Ulrich Dirnagl has not only generated scientific insights but also had a profound influence on Berlin’s research landscape. His legacy endures in structures like the QUEST Center, programs like SPARK-BIH, and in an ongoing cultural shift towards quality, openness, and social responsibility.