Spatial Biology in Cancer: Focus on Inflammation and Endothelial Cells in Bone Marrow
Berlin is a leading hub for biomedical research—especially in the fields of oncology, vascular biology, and immuno-oncology. Technologies such as single-cell analysis and spatial imaging are now providing entirely new insights into the interaction between blood vessels and tumors. The Einstein Circle “Spatial Biology in Cancer: Focus on Inflammation and Endothelial Cells in Bone Marrow”, led by Professor Il-Kang Na, Senior Physician at the Department of Hematology, Oncology and Tumor Immunology at Charité, brings together Berlin’s top research institutions—Charité, Max Delbrück Center, Leibniz Institute for Rheumatology Research, and Freie Universität Berlin—with international experts, for example through the European Society for Spatial Biology e.V. This society was co-founded by Professor Anja Hauser, who is also involved in the Einstein Circle.
The circle aims to launch joint research projects, exchange findings, and further develop approaches for new therapies. In regular “circle meetings,” studies are prepared, results are discussed, and funding proposals are coordinated. A key focus is securing third-party funding to support early-career researchers—for instance, through a Europe-wide graduate program aimed at expanding the Berlin School of Integrative Oncology.
The overarching goal is to further establish Berlin as a center of excellence in cancer research—and to tangibly improve treatment outcomes for patients.