About us
Addressing key challenges requires joining forces
The Alliance.
An interinstitutional research and innovation initiative.
The Alliance
Research and innovation to improve human health
The Health + Life Science Alliance is an interinstitutional research and innovation initiative dedicated to improving human health. The objective is to continuously explore and leverage current, sophisticated technical developments and ideas to improve our understanding of the biology and treatment of human disease and to explore the basis for entirely novel therapies. Established in 2022 by seven leading institutions in Heidelberg and Mannheim, the Alliance advances research and innovation through collaboration and joint platforms. The initiative brings together world-leading life science and biomedical research institutions and assembles a highly diverse range of disciplines and a cluster of top researchers. The Alliance will further develop existing cutting-edge research in the key areas of the life sciences and medicine into international beacons, strengthen transfer to industry and translation into medical applications, and make a key contribution to a new lead industry in Baden-Württemberg. It is supported by funding from the state of Baden-Württemberg as part of its innovation campus strategy.
The Alliance Management
The Alliance Management leverages the diverse expertise of colleagues from various backgrounds and oversees the wide range of activities within the Alliance.
Managing Directors
Prof. Dr. Michael Boutros - Scientific Director
Dr. Andrea Leibfried - Administrative Director
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wick - Scientific Director
Management Team
Meriam Bezohra, M.A., M.Sc. - Scientific Coordinator, partner relations + development
Lale Jakob - Administrative Officer, finance + controlling
Dr. Camila Konietzko - Infrastructure + Outreach Officer
Gabriele Lange-Edwards, M.A., M.F.A. - Communications + Outreach Officer
Dr. Ulrich Müller - Scientific Officer
Dr. Sabine Rehberger-Schneider - Scientific Coordinator, fellowships + grants
The Innovation Campus
The Health + Life Science Alliance is supported by the state government of Baden-Württemberg as part of its innovation campus strategy. Since its inception, the Alliance achieves additional impact through interaction - with comprehensive disciplinary diversity and bundled expertise. We appoint top scientists, promote young scientists through cross-institutional programs and create new potential, particularly for translation to patients and transfer to technological applications. The life sciences will thus become an innovative leading science and the basis for a new leading industry.
The Knowledge Region
The Rhine-Neckar region has a unique research and development network in medicine, life sciences and medical technology with the University of Excellence Heidelberg, its two medical faculties, Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), Mannheim University Hospital (UMM) and leading national and international research centers - the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research (MPImR) and the Central Institute of Mental Health (ZI). These institutions have joined forces in the Health + Life Science Alliance to form an interinstitutional research and innovation initiative. It is integrated into a potent economic environment consisting of large international companies and more than 400 small and medium-sized enterprises in the healthcare industry. The region therefore offers ideal conditions for successful knowledge transfer and excellent working conditions for researchers and innovators from all over the world.
Heidelberg, Mannheim and neighboring cities have set their focus to attract the best and brightest by offering competitive openings, with an emphasis in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical technology sectors and on promoting start-up initiatives.
The Rhine-Neckar region is also known for its quality of life: You will find a vibrant cultural life and attractive residential and shopping districts as well as a large and diverse international community. The region is one of the sunniest areas in Germany with a breathtaking landscape that offers recreation and many outdoor activities. Staying connected is easy with the extensive public transport and highway infrastructure, and only a short distance to Frankfurt Airport. A wide range of schools (including international schools) and daycare centers ensure that your family will feel at home. Many social activities and clubs, together with a vibrant cultural scene enable a great life work balance.
Heidelberg University, with its two medical faculties in Heidelberg and Mannheim, is the key player in the middle of an excellent research and development network in Heidelberg and the region. In the leading international rankings, medicine in Heidelberg consistently achieves top placements in Germany. With its outstanding profile in the life sciences and in medical technology, Heidelberg University particularly strengthens health research and the transfer of scientific knowledge to industry and society.
More than 450,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year in Germany. Researchers at DKFZ develop novel approaches to prevent cancer and to improve tumor diagnosis and treatment, a task that is supported within the collaborative environment of the Alliance.
From molecules to ecosystems, Europe’s leading life sciences laboratory, EMBL, explores the secrets of life in context. As a member of the Health + Life Science Alliance, it offers excellent biological research and technologies to drive innovation and knowledge transfer.
The Central Institute of Mental Health (CIMH) improves therapies and develops new treatment options for mental illnesses. A focus that supports the mission of the Alliance to improve human health, physical and mental.
At the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, physicists, chemists and biologists create knowledge of long-term relevance to basic medical science and therefore add great value to the Health + Life Science Alliance.
World-renowned medical professionals practice medicine at Heidelberg University Hospital. Within the Health + Life Science Alliance, progress and innovation will foster effective prevention, diagnosis and medical treatment.
The Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University and the University Hospital Mannheim form the Universitätsmedizin Mannheim (UMM). High quality research, numerous clinical studies as well as interdisciplinary medical treatment support the mission of the Health + Life Science Alliance.
Alliance Internal Advisory Board
The Internal Advisory Board advises the Managing Directors and provides guidance regarding the scientific direction of the Health + Life Science Alliance. Representatives from all Alliance institutions have been appointed to serve on the board and shape the scientific journey of the Alliance.
Prof. Dr. Beate Ditzen (Heidelberg University + University Hospital Heidelberg)
Prof. Dr. Michaela Frye (DKFZ)
Prof. Dr. Kerstin Göpfrich (Heidelberg University + Max Planck Institute for Medical Research)
Prof. Dr. Wolf-Karsten Hofmann (Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University + University Hospital Mannheim)
Prof. Dr. Kai Johnsson (Max Planck Institute for Medical Research)
Prof. Dr. Jan Korbel (EMBL + DKFZ)
Prof. Dr. Jan Lohmann (Heidelberg University)
Prof. Dr. Fruzsina Molnár-Gábor (Heidelberg University + DKFZ)
Prof. Dr. Michael Platten (Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University + University Hospital Mannheim + DKFZ)
Prof. Dr. Oliver Stegle (DKFZ + EMBL)
Prof. Dr. Dr. Heike Tost (ZI)
Our Values
At the Alliance we value scientific excellence, diversity, and sustainability, and apply these values in our actions and decision making processes.
We also recognize the need to support the development of better and more effective approaches to assessing research. Towards this end, the Alliance has signed DORA.
What is DORA?
DORA stands for the San Francisco Declaration on Research Assessment which was proposed by a group of editors and publishers of scholarly journals during the Annual Meeting of The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) in San Francisco, California, on 16th December 2012. For more information and to read the declaration, visit https://sfdora.org/read/.
"Cooperation plays a decisive role in cutting-edge research, which is why the alliance of leading research institutions in the field of life sciences in the greater Heidelberg area is creating something extraordinary."
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