Brain City Ambassador Prof. Dr. Maike Sander

Brain City Berlin

Brain City Ambassador Prof. Dr. Maike Sander heads the Berlin Max Delbrück Centre for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association as Scientific Director and Chair of the Board. The doctor is researching new therapeutic approaches for diabetes.

Around 8.5 million people in Germany suffer from diabetes. According to a study published in June 2023, around 1.3 billion people worldwide will probably have diabetes by 2050. It is no coincidence that the United Nations has declared “diabetes” a global threat to humanity. Prof. Dr. Maike Sander wants to counteract this: with new therapeutic approaches for diabetes. Together with her team at the Max Delbrück Center in Berlin, she is investigating which genetic factors lead to the death of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas in diabetes patients. “We want to understand the molecular mechanisms and control the development and function of beta cells in the pancreas,” says the Brain City Ambassador. The researcher is working together with scientists from Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité (BIH). Her biggest research success to date is future-oriented: “Our work has created the basis for beta cells to be produced from human stem cells. What makes me particularly happy: Such beta cells are now being tested in clinical trials for the treatment of diabetes.”

Maike Sander was already fascinated by endocrinology during her medical studies in Heidelberg. “Since diabetes is the most common endocrine disease, I turned to beta cells. The idea that we would one day replace lost beta cells by getting other cell types to produce insulin already existed 30 years ago." After graduating, Maike Sander worked as a researcher and professor at the University of California for around 25 years, 15 of them in San Diego – a city on the coast with surfing beaches, a long military history and a young, dynamic tech industry.

The internationally recognised top researcher came to Berlin from California to take on a new task: At the end of 2022, Maike Sander became the first woman to take on the position of Scientific director and CEO of the Max Delbrück Center. “An important goal of my work is to facilitate interdisciplinarity and collaboration – beyond our own center with other academic institutions and with industry. After all, our future lies in networked research and collaboration in interdisciplinary teams.”

Berlin has all the prerequisites to become an important driving force for biomedical innovation in Germany and Europe. The city has an enormous density of biomedical research institutes, the Charité as Europe’s largest academic medical centre, four universities and a diverse start-up scene.

Berlin air instead of Californian sun? For Maike Sander, this is a successful change. “I came to Berlin because I can help shape the future of health sciences here locally and in Germany. Like San Diego, Berlin offers academic science at the highest level and great training opportunities for young scientists. “After living and working near the beach for 22 years, it was time for me to return to city life. I really enjoy working in my new position. And there is always something to discover in Berlin!”

Maike Sander appreciates another plus of Brain City Berlin: “Berlin has all the prerequisites to become an important driving force for biomedical innovation in Germany and Europe. The city has an enormous density of biomedical research institutes, the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin as Europe’s largest academic medical centre, four universities and a diverse start-up scene. Berlin is also a wonderful city to live in, it is future-oriented and cosmopolitan. The leaders of institutions across Berlin share a desire to move things forward. Being part of this very vibrant ecosystem is stimulating and fulfilling.”

Maike Sander advises young scientists to make contacts early on, talk to people – and explore the city. “Look for a working environment in which you can work on innovative concepts and network. Berlin offers excellent opportunities for this.” (vdo)