iL-CURRENT
March 11, 2025
Friedemann Loos on OoC: "More accurate and faster results"
One of the main topics at LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY on 29 April will be a panel discussion (topic: "Bridging the gap between science and industry: accelerating innovation in personalized medicine") with four experts from science and industry, which will be chaired by Dr. Friedemann Loos from the bioRN Life Science Cluster in Heidelberg.
We spoke to bioRN's Innovation Manager in the run-up to the event. Loos has numerous national and international contacts in the field of personalized medicine and has been heavily involved in the EU research project PRECISEU, which comprises 25 project partners from eleven European countries, since July 2024.
Mr. Loos, what motivation do you, participate in the InnovationLabworkshop "Organ-onChip" as representative of the life Science cluster bioRN and moderator of the panel discussion in Heidelberg present to to be there?
Friedemann Loos: Meine Motivation liegt darin, die neuesten Entwicklungen und Anwendungen der Organ‒on‒Chip ‒Technologie zu diskutieren und zu fördern. Diese Technologie hat das Potenzial, die Art und Weise, wie wir Krankheiten modellieren und Medikamente entwickeln, zu revolutionieren.
You are molecular biologist, expert in life sciences and networker. Why is the topic OoC from your comprehensive perspective just now so relevant?
Loos: This technology makes it possible to replicate complex physiological processes on microchips, which leads to more accurate and faster results in drug development and disease modeling. It also offers an ethical alternative to animal testing and supports personalized medical approaches.
Networker and moderator of the panel discussion at the LIFE SCIENCE TECH DAY on April 29: Dr. Friedemann Loos from the bioRN Life Science Cluster. Image: bioRN
"Microfluidics and 3D printing are closely intertwined with OoC"
Which points of overlap are are there between OoC, personalized medicine, microfluidics and 3D-printing - which technological hurdles are to to overcome?
Loos: Microfluidics and 3D printing are closely intertwined with OoC; they need to be thought of and used together in order to develop solutions for personalized medicine. The great promise of replicating physiological conditions at cell, organ or even organism level is certainly the biggest technological hurdle.
Can you us examples successful implementations from OoCtechnologies in the industry and in clinical routine name?
Loos: For me, the clearest sign of successful implementation is the increasing acceptance of OoC by global pharmaceutical companies, for example Roche or Bayer, in the entire development process from target identification to pharmacokinetics and dynamics through to preclinical safety and clinical development.
Exciting and well-attended event format: Friedemann Loos at the bioRN Lounge in the Urban Kitchen in Heidelberg. The monthly network meeting regularly brings the members of the life science cluster together. Image: bioRN
What is your personal approach to the topic?
Loos: I am a molecular biologist by training and as a PhD student I worked a lot with the differentiation of stem cells in order to study tissue functionally and under physiological conditions. As Innovation Manager at bioRN, I see great potential in organ-on-chip technology for drug development and personalized medicine.
And how high is your knowledge and networking needs at the workshop of the iL with with regard with regard to organonchip?
Loos: I am certainly no expert, but I am hoping for new impetus and discussions, particularly with regard to new contacts for the European flagship project PRECISEU, which is generally about rolling out personalized medicine in Europe.
About the person
Friedemann Loos completed his doctorate on transcription regulation and genome engineering at the Erasmus Medical Center in Rotterdam in 2015. He then conducted postdoctoral research at the Institute Gustave Roussy in Paris at the interface of immuno-oncology and autophagy and served as manager of LabEx Immuno-Oncology, a high-level French research consortium. He was also active at the Research Executive Agency of the European Commission, where he accompanied a project to promote disruptive innovation.
Since January 2019, Friedemann Loos has been working for the bioRN Life Science Cluster, where he supports the transfer of research, for example as part of the EU project PRECISEU, and helps to evaluate new scientific developments.
About bioRN
The bioRN Life Science Cluster establishes initiatives to connect the regional innovation players and to maintain and expand contacts between the approximately 160 members. BioRN also promotes connections to other innovation regions worldwide and stands for the promotion and visibility of the life science region on a national and international level. The cluster acts as a neutral player and supports cross-organizational programs and initiatives that advance the life science region as a whole. At the interface between science and industry, bioRN provides translation support, in particular by leveraging the unique combination of the global pharmaceutical industry and leading academic institutions in the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region.
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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