Celebrating 20 Years of BCRT

Internal Retreat - 26 November 2026

Exchange, networking, and shared perspectives

The anniversary programme will open with a dynamic day dedicated to science, innovation and the next generation. Young researchers and clinicians present poster sessions, insights into clinical trials and interactive projects. The programme will create space for scientific exchange, new ideas and collaborations across disciplines, while highlighting the breadth of research and clinical translation within the BCRT community. 

Official Anniversary Ceremony - 27 November 2026

Reflecting on the Past, Looking to the Future

The second day will take a broader look at the development of regenerative medicine and the role of BCRT within this rapidly evolving field. The day will begin with Opening Reflections & Words of Congratulations, bringing together perspectives from politics and the Berlin research landscape. Among the distinguished speakers are Stephan Albani, Head of the Research Board of the German Bundestag, Heyo Kroemer, CEO of Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, and Christopher Baum, Chair of the Executive Board of the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité. Together, they will reflect on BCRT’s achievements and its importance within the Berlin and national research landscape. 

The programme will then turn to the future of advanced therapies with Building the Future of Advanced Therapies – Science, Technology & Translational Partnerships. Renowned scientists and research leaders including Maike Sander from the Max Delbrück Center, Alexander Meissner from the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Francesca Toma from Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Eicke Latz from the German Rheumatism Research Centre, Peter Fratzl from the Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, and Martin Rennert, Chair of the Einstein Foundation Berlin, will discuss emerging technologies, scientific opportunities and the partnerships needed to translate discoveries into future therapies. 

Long-standing members and supporters of the BCRT community will then share their perspectives in Words of Congratulations – Accompanying the BCRT Journey, including Lina Badimon, member of the BIH SAB and BCRT ESCO, and Viola Vogel, Professor at ETH Zurich and member of the BCRT ESCO. The scientific programme will continue with a keynote lecture by Carlijn Bouten, Professor of Cell-Matrix Interactions in Cardiovascular Regeneration at Eindhoven University of Technology. 

The afternoon will shine the spotlight on the people behind BCRT. Under the title Towards Scientific Leadership – A BCRT Journey Through Time, former and current BCRT researchers will look at career paths shaped by mentorship, curiosity, persistence and, occasionally, surviving grant deadlines. Beyond BCRT – Ideas That Took Flight to New Horizons will highlight former members whose scientific ideas and careers have developed far beyond the centre, demonstrating the lasting impact of the BCRT community. 

The programme will then move From Bench to Bedside – The Clinical Perspective, bringing together clinical experts to discuss the translation of BCRT research into patient care and the challenges and opportunities along the way. With New Players@BCRT – Fresh Minds, New Energy & the Next Chapter, the spotlight will finally turn to the next generation of scientists and clinicians who will shape the centre’s future. 

The anniversary day will close with How It All Began – Founder’s Reflections, offering a personal perspective on the origins of BCRT. Hans-Dieter Volk, Founding Director of BCRT, will share stories from a time when BCRT was little more than a daring idea – and reflect on the journey that has transformed that idea into an established centre for regenerative therapies. 

From its beginnings to the technologies and therapies of tomorrow, the 20th anniversary programme will celebrate BCRT’s scientific achievements, its people and its enduring spirit of collaboration. Above all, it will look ahead: to new ideas, new partnerships and a new generation of remarkable scientists and clinicians ready to shape the next chapter of