Our Center

Medicine has made enormous progress in recent years thanks to new pharmaceuticals and new biological drugs. Nevertheless, there are a number of unresolved problems that will be exacerbated by an ageing society in the future. 

Traditionally, the causes and symptoms of a disease are treated. In regenerative therapies, by contrast, the disturbed body functions themselves are restored. This is done either by stimulating the body's own self-healing and repair processes or by biological substitution in the form of living cells. The aim is to restore, as far as possible, the original healthy and functional state of an affected tissue, instead of merely repairing it in a makeshift way or treating the symptoms resulting from the defect. 

These curative approaches of regenerative medicine, combined with new diagnostic, surgical and minimally invasive procedures, represent a new paradigm in medical care. They can be used to overcome problems that have, so far, not been solved or only unsatisfactorily solved. 

At the BCRT, we are developing new methods and products to stimulate the body's own regeneration processes through cells, biomaterials, biologically active factors and combinations thereof. Thereby, acute and chronic diseases of the immune, musculoskeletal and cardiovascular systems can be successfully treated or cured long term. 

1. Development of methods and tools for regenerative therapies based on immune and stem cells, biomaterials, biologically active factors and combinations thereof. 
2. Development of biomarkers for the optimal use of these new regenerative therapies with the aim of selecting the therapy according to the patient's needs (especially for diseases of the immune/musculoskeletal/cardiovascular system) and at the optimal point in time. 
3. Rapid translation of research results into preclinical and clinical studies for the development of new regenerative therapies. 
4. Targeted training of a new generation of scientists: qualified medical doctors, natural scientists and engineers who conduct both pure and applied research in the field of regenerative therapies. 
5. Promotion of partnerships with health insurance companies, regulatory authorities, experts in health economics as well as with representatives and partners from the biotech and pharmaceutical industries. 
6. Involvement in regional, national and international scientific and organisational networks. 
7. Communicating our goals and results to the scientific, political and general public. 

The development of regenerative therapies poses major challenges for the BCRT: 

• Introducing a new class of therapeutics that, unlike pharmaceuticals or medical devices, enable new treatment pathways and therapies. 

• Managing the regulatory aspects of approving these new, complex therapies and demonstrating their health economic benefits. 

• Careful consideration of the opportunities and risks of these new forms of therapy (e.g. stem cell therapy); support for a publicly conducted, qualified discussion. 

• Define internationally recognised treatment standards, separate from individually qualified centres, in order to achieve a broader use of the therapies at a qualified level. This is also intended to create a clear demarcation from unscientific approaches and promises about the opportunities for regenerative and stem cell medicine, pursued by individual, commercially oriented institutions.