iL-CURRENT
March 25, 2025
Rainer Wessel from the DKFZ: "Promoting early drug research"
Innovation Management (IM) at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) has the strategic goal of translating excellent research into sustainable applications to help patients and benefit society. Dr. Rainer Wessel is the experienced Chief Innovation Manager at the DKFZ. At the LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY on April 29 (Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.), he will take part in the panel discussion, which will be moderated by Dr. Friedemann Loos from the bioRN Life Science Cluster. We from iL conducted the following expert interview with Rainer Wessel.
Mr. Wessel, what motivation do you, participate in the InnovationLabworkshop "Organ-onChip" as panelist in Heidelberg the topic to analyze?
Rainer Wessel: As the largest cancer research center in Europe, the DKFZ is increasingly focusing on the promotion of early drug research. In this context, we see the need to bring materials scientists and bioscientists together at an early stage to develop sophisticated, patient-oriented model systems that can improve drug research. The integration of AI-driven approaches aims to accelerate innovation in cancer drug discovery while ensuring affordable and accessible new therapeutic solutions. We see organ-on-chip technology as an important building block in the development of these solutions.
You are Chief Innovation Officer at the DKFZ, are responsible for the innovation management. Why is OoC from your professional perspective just now so important?
Wessel: As already mentioned in the answer to the first question, the continuous improvement of preclinical model systems is of crucial importance for the development of new and better cancer drugs. This ultimately enables a more precise prediction and assessment of the therapeutic efficacy of new substances in subsequent clinical trials. I consider the scientific, translational and transfer-oriented expertise available at the DKFZ, which was recently awarded the highest category of "outstanding" by an international panel of experts, to be a key factor in addressing this issue. In combination with AI processes, I see OoC technologies as a promising approach to get closer to the goal of using better quality technologies than simple cellular in vitro systems or animal models in drug research. In our opinion, this will accelerate the faster and more targeted development of new drugs, which would then also lead to a reduction in costs.
Chief Innovation Officer at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ): Dr. Rainer Wessel will be at the LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY on April 29 as a participant in the panel discussion and as a networker. Picture: DKFZ
Create relevant models
Which technological, structural and regulatory challenges must in the research and corporate sector urgently addressed be addressed urgently?
Wessel: The rapid integration of new technologies into everyday drug research is a key aspect of achieving the goal outlined above. This process is not only taking place in academic research and companies, but also in the regulatory field. Should OoCs therefore prove to be suitable, for example for replacing certain animal experiments in preclinical development, the regulatory authorities will need to take this into account.
Can you about concrete, successful application examples of OoCtechnologies in the industry and in clinical routine report?
Wessel: OoC technologies are increasingly being used in drug research to create more accurate models that are relevant to humans and thus improve the prediction of the efficacy and safety of drugs. I would be happy to give you a few examples:
- Researchers have developed a platform that integrates engineered human tumor tissue and cardiac tissue to evaluate both anti-tumor efficacy and potential cardiotoxicity of drugs. For example, the cancer drug linsitinib was tested using this system and provided insights into its effect on tumor and cardiac tissue that were consistent with the results of clinical trials (Chramiec et al Integrated human organ-on-a-chip model for predictive studies of anti-tumor drug efficacy and cardiac safety. Lab on a Chip. 23, 2020)
- The company InSphero has developed a microfluidic chip that connects different 3D micro-organs, such as liver and pancreas models, to simulate the interactions between human organs. With this technology, drugs can be tested on organ networks, leading to a better understanding of the effects of drugs on the human body and potentially reducing the need for animal testing (InSphero | 3D In Vitro Models for Non-animal Drug Testing).
- TNO has developed translational preclinical modeling platforms for human organs, including Liver-on-a-Chip and Gut-on-a-Chip. These platforms enable medium to high throughput ADME (drug absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion) studies and efficacy studies that provide a better understanding of the impact of interventions on human health (Organ-on-a-Chip offers more accurate preclinical studies)
The NMI (Natural and Medical Sciences Institute), based in Reutlingen, focuses on the development of microfluidic platforms that replicate the microarchitecture and functions of human organs. The development of organ-on-chip systems aims to simulate complex human biological processes and provide more precise models for evaluating the pharmacology and toxicity of drugs (Organ-on-Chip | NMI).
Rainer Wessel during one of his presentations: The molecular biologist with a doctorate brings experience from the pharmaceutical and life science industry, from biotechnology companies and as a leading-edge cluster director. Picture: DKFZ
What is your personal top view on OoC?
Wessel: We have been in contact with the InnovationLab for some time and are pleased that our colleagues have taken up modern technologies for drug research and are proactively driving them forward. One of these technologies is OoC and we are investigating other topics/technologies that we will discuss and hopefully apply together.
How large is is your ambition, the workshop of the iL for networking to use?
Wessel: We see a workshop that brings together different research disciplines as a welcome opportunity to make new contacts and discuss interdisciplinary ways of getting closer to our goal of improving drug research.
About the person
Dr. Rainer Wessel is Chief Innovation Officer at the DKFZ. He has more than 30 years of management experience in the pharmaceutical and life science industry, as CEO of biotechnology companies and as director of a cluster of excellence. He holds a PhD in molecular biology from the University of Konstanz and is a Max Planck, Boehringer Ingelheim Fund and DAAD alumni. He is also a staff officer in the German Armed Forces in the field of biodefense.
About the DKFZ
Research for a life without cancer - the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) is Germany's largest biomedical research institution and a world-leading center for cancer research. The DKFZ's mission is to develop innovative approaches to cancer prevention, diagnosis and treatment.
Information about the LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY
Further information on the procedure and registration can be found on our website at
https://www.innovationlab.de/life‒science‒tech‒day‒2025
Registration ends on April 22, one week before the workshop on April 29. Catering will be provided at InnovationLab's "iL.Connect.Space" premises.
Joachim Klaehn
Head of Communications
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