First DZG Lower Saxony Day brings together researchers from five DZGs

For the first time, scientists from five German Centers for Health Research came together at the DZG Lower Saxony Day in Hanover. The event provided cardiologists, infectious disease specialists, lung researchers, and experts in neurodegenerative diseases as well as child and adolescent health with an opportunity for interdisciplinary exchange and regional networking.

More than 100 representatives from politics, research institutions, and funding organizations met at Medical Park Hanover on April 17, 2026, to discuss how medical innovations can be translated more rapidly into patient care. The following DZGs were represented:

• German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK)
• German Center for Infection Research (DZIF)
• German Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ)
• German Center for Lung Research (DZL)
• German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE)

In his welcoming remarks, Lower Saxony’s Minister of Science and Culture, Falko Mohrs, emphasized the significance of the DZG for biomedical research in Lower Saxony and underscored how crucial close collaboration between politics and science is for rapidly translating new scientific findings into clinical applications for the benefit of patients.

Central mission: translational research

Dr. Georg Schütte of the VolkswagenStiftung spoke from a personal perspective about the founding of the DZG during his time as State Secretary at the BMBF (now BMFTR), and was also quoted by Stefanie Dimmeler (acting DZG spokesperson), who reminded the audience that the DZG was not intended simply to provide more funding for what had always been done. The central mission of the DZG is translational research. The scientists impressively demonstrated that this is being implemented in the subsequent program.

The event focused on closer scientific collaboration within the DZG. In presentations and poster sessions, the scientists showcased diverse and outstanding translational research projects, local research priorities, and the latest therapeutic and technological developments. The significance of translating research findings into new therapies to improve patients’ health and quality of life was emphatically illustrated through the personal perspectives of two young patient representatives.
In addition, examples of successful spin-offs from the DZG in Lower Saxony were vividly presented, and DZG- and site-internal support options for product development and spin-offs were demonstrated.

Another key objective of the program was networking and exchange at the strategic level. How can we better leverage technologies, service structures, and existing expertise together, create new synergies, and optimally support young talents in biomedical and clinical research?

The 1st DZG Day Lower Saxony was a successful kick-off event to explore these questions and strengthen the research network across all DZGs in Lower Saxony. We look forward to building on the momentum generated and translating it into concrete actions. Further joint events will follow.

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Further DZG Days in 2026

8th DZG Dresden Day, 11 May 2026
4th DZG Munich Day, 29 July 2026
2nd DZG Heidelberg-Mannheim Day, 21 September 2026
1st DZG Berlin Day, 11 November 2026