Prof. Dr. Petra Ritter, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

Brain City Ambassador Prof. Dr Petra Ritter is one of the leading researchers in the field of computational neuroscience. As Johanna Quandt Professor for Life, she heads the Brain Simulation research group at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. Since 2017, she has also been Director of the Brain Simulation Section (CCM) at the Department of Neurology with Experimental Neurology at Charité. 

“I am not a typical medical doctor, nor a typical techie. That characterises our entire team as well. We are highly interdisciplinary. Even medical doctors in our group programme and develop mathematical models.” Prof. Dr Petra Ritter leads the Brain Simulation research group at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and is internationally recognised as a leading figure in computational neuroscience — a field that uses computer simulations and theoretical approaches to understand how our nervous system functions. Her research focus lies in digital health. 

One of the internationally oriented projects the Brain City Ambassador is working on as part of the EU project she coordinates, “eBRAIN-Health”, is the open-source initiative “The Virtual Brain Cloud” (TVB-Cloud). “This cloud-based platform enables us to systematically integrate knowledge into mathematical models and thus generate theories about how the brain works,” says Petra Ritter. “Processes that take place in the brain are described using mathematical equations. With high-performance computing, we can simulate complex calculations in brain networks. These computer models can then be enriched with individual measurement data and personalised in order to generate predictions tailored to each individual.” The team now even transforms raw brain imaging data into virtual avatars of patients — so-called digital twins. 

The insights gained from such simulations could revolutionise diagnostics and therapies for diseases such as Parkinson’s disease, dementia, schizophrenia, psychoses and stroke, explains Petra Ritter: “There are many different imaging techniques that allow us, for example, to measure fibre connections between different brain regions or the activity of nerve fibres. We then use mathematical models to represent these multi-level data in computer simulations, enabling us to draw conclusions about the complex processes underlying brain activity and their dysfunctions.” The range of diseases under investigation is broad. “We also study epilepsy, for example, which often does not respond sufficiently to medication and requires neurosurgical treatment.” The team also explores how cognitive processes emerge. “Using the digital twin, we demonstrate how complex interactions in the brain unfold under different conditions, for example when people make decisions.” The research findings of the Brain Simulation group also feed into the development of biologically inspired artificial intelligence. 

The list of digital health projects led, coordinated or co-founded by Petra Ritter is long. The largest at present is “TEF-Health”, a Europe-wide “Testing and Experimentation Facility for AI and Robotics in Healthcare”. To ensure that AI-based applications in healthcare are safe and trustworthy, they can be tested and validated across borders under real-world conditions via the platform. Providers of intelligent healthcare technologies are also strategically connected with suitable companies to facilitate market access. “TEF-Health has many aspects that we can support and enrich with our developments and expertise,” says Ritter. 

Petra Ritter first engaged with digital health during her medical studies at Charité and in the United States. “Afterwards, I worked clinically at Charité for several years. That experience certainly benefits me today. But even during my doctoral research, I focused on brain imaging and began describing my observations using mathematical models.” She quickly realised that computational models are essential to characterise the brain’s extremely complex processes. “This can only be achieved through mathematics and simulations. At conferences, I met people with similar interests and established contacts worldwide. This led to internationally oriented collaborations and platforms such as ‘The Virtual Brain’ at a very early stage.” 

Her home city of Berlin remains, for Petra Ritter, the “place to be”. Brain City Berlin offers her the freedom to thrive. “Where else in the world would you find a professorship in brain simulation? In Berlin, you can be creative and think beyond existing boundaries. This openness very much suits me. That is why I am happy to be here.” 

She therefore wholeheartedly advises early-career researchers:  “Just come. You will love Berlin!” Her second piece of advice is personal: “Consider joining our lab. We are always looking for creative minds from almost all disciplines who are curious and motivated.”