What is your current professional position and where is it located?
I work as a laboratory engineer at AG Fuchs at CRTD.
What is the focus of your current research and what aspects are you interested in?
The focus of my work is on translating the research scale to a large-scale manufacturing process for iPSC-derived allogeneic macrophages as a future cell therapy against solid tumors. This involves also appropriate quality controls to ensure that patients receive a safe therapy.
Beside this, I am involved in patient studies such as virus-specific T cell therapy at the GMP facility. It is a good feeling to contribute to the cure of patients.
Have you set yourself a specific goal in your SaxoCell project?
My primary goal and the first step is the large-scale production of allogeneic macrophages under optimal conditions to ensure maximum yield and viable, functional cells. Of course, the next and long-term goal to be achieved is the treatment of patients with this cell therapy.
Please finish the following sentence: "SaxoCell is for me..."
... a great way to combine knowledge from different groups in Saxony with industry partners and optimize this knowledge for the main goal - the treatment of patients with an innovative ATMP!
Outside of academics, what are some of your hobbies or interests?
I love traveling to new places and other countries. But I also like going to concerts, horse riding, generally doing sports, especially the training for my next half marathon as a good balance to the work.
What is an important lesson or piece of advice you would give to your younger self?
Leave your comfort zone. Otherwise, you will never know what is behind this.
If you could have a conversation with a famous person (from past or present), who would it be and what would you ask them?
I would like to talk with two great women in Science and Nobel Prize winner - Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna. I would ask them how they could manage their career with private life, family, friends and personal goals. Especially in stressful times. How they find a good balance between this.
But this question I would also ask to all the great scientific women in the Saxocell cluster!
What was your favourite cartoon series to watch as a child?
My favourite cartoon series during Christmas time was “Weihnachtsmann & Co.kg”. Perfect for snowy days.
What is one technology or innovation that you could not live without?
I couldn't imagine life without Spotify and other music streaming services now. They have changed my daily life because I can listen to my favorite music and podcasts whenever I want.