Berlin – Center of medical excellence

31.08.2026 ‒ Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Evangelische Lungenklinik established the Deutsches Lungenzentrum Charité-ELK on September 1, 2026. The cross-site center combines Charité’s university-based research and expertise with the Evangelische Lungenklinik’s highly specialized pulmonary medicine and thoracic surgery. This creates close links between scientific findings, specialized treatment, and interdisciplinary collaboration.
The center brings together expertise in areas including the treatment of tumors of the chest, thoracic surgery, intensive and respiratory care, weaning from mechanical ventilation, early rehabilitation, sleep medicine, and palliative care. Joint interdisciplinary case conferences, standardized treatment pathways, and coordinated procedures are intended to improve diagnostics and therapy across the participating sites. Joint studies and new therapeutic approaches are also planned.

27.08.2026 ‒ A study conducted at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin shows for the first time that CAR T-cell therapy may also be effective in patients with severe, treatment-resistant rheumatoid arthritis. Until now, this form of immunotherapy has primarily been used to treat certain types of cancer. The procedure involves genetically modifying a patient’s own immune cells in the laboratory so that they can specifically recognize and eliminate dysregulated B cells involved in the autoimmune disease.
In the world’s first clinical study of its kind, six patients with particularly severe rheumatoid arthritis received the treatment. Disease activity decreased significantly in all participants. By the end of the study, three were able to stop taking medication for rheumatoid arthritis entirely. The findings suggest that the therapy could specifically reset the disease-related immune memory. However, the treatment is still experimental. Further studies are needed to determine its long-term efficacy and safety.

10.06.2026 ‒ The Deutsches Herzzentrum der Charité (DHZC) in Berlin has once again received the highest possible rating for its TAVI program in a current quality assessment by AOK, one of Germany’s largest statutory health insurance providers. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is primarily used to treat severe narrowing of the aortic valve. During the procedure, a new heart valve is usually guided to the heart through a blood vessel in the groin. The chest does not need to be opened, and general anesthesia can often be avoided. This can reduce the physical strain on patients and support a faster recovery. National quality data also show good treatment outcomes at the DHZC. In 2025, around 1,300 TAVI procedures were performed there. Overall, the center has experience from more than 14,000 procedures, making it one of the world’s largest TAVI centers.

19.05.2026 ‒ The German Heart Centre at Charité (DHZC) is launching “Straight Talk: Women’s hearts”. The initiative explains gender-specific differences in cardiology and makes interdisciplinary care for female patients more visible. Cardiovascular care should take women’s specific risks, symptoms and life stages into account.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death among women, yet diagnosis and treatment often still follow male patterns. This can mean that conditions are diagnosed later in women. Symptoms may also differ from those experienced by men. Pregnancy complications, menopause and certain cancer therapies can also affect heart health.
The interdisciplinary care at the DHZC helps identify risks earlier and support long-term prevention. The specialists also cover high-risk pregnancies, pregnancy complications and cardiac follow-up after cancer treatment.

25.03.2026 ‒ A new milestone in hip surgery was reached at Evangelisches Waldkrankenhaus Spandau: For the first time in Germany and Austria, a hip replacement was performed using the ROSA (Robotic Surgical Assistant) system. The technology supports surgeons in planning the procedure and positioning the implant with greater precision.
For patients, this can offer several benefits: healthy tissue can be better protected, postoperative pain may be reduced, earlier mobilisation and faster rehabilitation can be supported, and the length of the hospital stay may be shortened.
The hospital already has extensive experience with ROSA. The system has been used there for knee surgery for almost six years, with more than 4,000 procedures performed. This makes the Spandau team one of the most experienced ROSA teams in Europe. Its use in hip surgery now expands the scope of robot-assisted orthopaedics and provides additional modern treatment options for patients in Berlin.

11.03.2026 – A research team led by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has identified a potential new treatment approach for the rare Leigh syndrome. The inherited metabolic disorder impairs the energy supply to the brain and muscles and can cause seizures, muscle weakness and developmental disorders from childhood. In a pilot study involving six patients, sildenafil – an active ingredient also known from Viagra – improved muscle strength in particular; in some cases, neurological symptoms and metabolic crises also decreased.
The research began with a screening of more than 5,500 existing compounds using nerve cells and brain organoids developed from patient cells. The initial findings now need to be confirmed in a larger, Europe-wide, placebo-controlled study. The EMA (European Medicines Agency) has already granted sildenafil orphan-drug designation for Leigh syndrome. The Berlin research demonstrates how existing medicines can be systematically investigated for new applications in rare diseases.

25.02.2026 ‒ The U.S. magazine Newsweek, in cooperation with the global data and business intelligence platform Statista, has published the World’s Best Hospitals 2026 ranking. Once again, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin is listed among the world’s leading hospitals: the research-based university hospital in Berlin ranks 8th worldwide, 2nd in Europe and 1st in Germany.
The ranking evaluates more than 2,500 hospitals worldwide and is based on international recommendations from medical experts, patient experience data and hospital quality metrics, including indicators related to treatment quality and hygiene.

13.11.2025 – Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the German Heart Center of Charité (DHZC) have founded the Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM). Its goal is to systematically transfer AI applications from research into clinical practice and assess their benefits and safety in studies. The institute is headed by Prof. Alexander Meyer, who also holds the newly established professorship for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine.
IKIM develops AI systems for patient care, hospital management and research, while also investigating methods that make AI-based decisions transparent and understandable for physicians. Data scientists will work closely with clinical teams. Cooperation with the Berlin Institute for the Foundations of Learning and Data (BIFOLD) at TU Berlin and the digital model clinic currently being developed at DHZC will also play an important role. The new institute strengthens Berlin’s capacity to evaluate medical AI under real-world clinical conditions and support its responsible use.

16.10.2025 ‒ Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring in Berlin is now using a new robot-assisted procedure to investigate suspicious changes in the lungs. The Ion system supports physicians during bronchoscopy and makes it possible to reach even very small nodules or those located deep within the lung tissue in order to obtain tissue samples. This allows suspicious findings that were previously difficult to access with conventional endoscopic procedures to be examined more precisely. According to Helios, the procedure is associated with a lower risk of complications than previous methods, and several suspicious areas can be investigated during a single procedure. If lung cancer is confirmed, the next steps in treatment are determined individually by an interdisciplinary tumor board. 
More precise diagnostics can help provide clarity at an earlier stage and enable suitable treatment to begin sooner. With the system now in use at the certified lung cancer center of the Heckeshorn Lung Clinic at Helios Klinikum Emil von Behring, Berlin is further expanding its specialized services in modern pulmonary medicine.

09.10.2025 ‒ At Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, a new diagnostic and surgical method is being used to treat children with focal congenital hyperinsulinism. In this rare genetic metabolic disorder, the pancreas produces too much insulin, which can lead to life-threatening episodes of low blood sugar. A key challenge is to precisely locate and completely remove the affected areas of tissue, which are often only a few millimetres in size.
The interdisciplinary Charité team from paediatric surgery, paediatric endocrinology and nuclear medicine uses a new radioactively labelled substance known as a tracer. Unlike tracers used previously, it can be applied not only for diagnostic imaging but also during surgery. A special probe enables surgeons to locate the affected tissue directly in the operating room. According to studies, this approach can simplify and shorten procedures and reduce complications. At the same time, the aim is to preserve as much healthy pancreatic tissue as possible in order to limit the risk of developing diabetes later in life. The method is currently used routinely only at Charité worldwide.

19.06.2025 – At the German Heart Center of Charité (DHZC), a new type of pulmonary valve prosthesis made from the patient’s own tissue has been implanted for the first time. Tissue from the pericardium is removed, shaped into valve leaflets and inserted into the heart via catheter – without open-heart surgery. Because the tissue is recognised by the immune system as the body’s own, the valve is intended to be more durable than conventional prostheses made from animal tissue. 
The approach could be particularly relevant for children with congenital heart defects: a future biodegradable stent is designed to allow the valve to adapt as the body grows, potentially reducing the need for repeat procedures. The technology is being tested for safety in a study, initially involving seven young adults. It was developed under the leadership of Prof. Felix Berger with a team led by PD Dr. Boris Schmitt at the DHZC and transferred to the Berlin start-up GrOwnValve. The project brings together paediatric cardiology, clinical research and medical technology in Berlin.

30.05.2025 ‒ Researchers at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin have identified a potential new treatment approach for chronic inflammatory bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. These conditions often begin at a young age and can have a major impact on patients’ quality of life.
The study examined the interaction between the immune signaling molecules interleukin-22 and oncostatin M. The researchers found that this interaction can intensify inflammation in the intestine and may also contribute to the development of colorectal cancer associated with chronic inflammation.
In experimental models, blocking the receptors for oncostatin M significantly reduced both intestinal inflammation and the associated development of cancer. The findings could therefore support the development of more targeted treatment options, particularly for patients with severe disease. A clinical trial investigating this approach is already underway.
Teams at Charité led by Prof. Ahmed Hegazy and Prof. Britta Siegmund, as well as the German Rheumatology Research Centre Berlin, played a key role in the research.

19.03.2025 ‒ A study by Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin provides new insights into the effectiveness of the Imvanex vaccine against mpox, with findings that are particularly relevant for people living with HIV.
Among more than 9,300 participants, a single vaccine dose provided 84 percent short-term protection in people without HIV. In people with HIV, however, one dose did not provide sufficient protection. The findings therefore support the recommendation that people at increased risk, especially those living with HIV, receive the full two-dose primary vaccination series. The vaccine was well tolerated by most participants. People who became infected despite vaccination also experienced milder symptoms and recovered more quickly. Further studies will investigate how long the protection lasts and whether an additional third dose could be beneficial.
The study was conducted by teams led by Prof. Leif Erik Sander and Prof. Florian Kurth at the Department of Infectious Diseases and Critical Care Medicine at Charité and was supported by the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité and the European Medicines Agency.

30.01.2025 ‒ A significant advance in the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer has been achieved with the involvement of Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch. Long-term data from the international KATHERINE study show that the drug T-DM1 (Trastuzumab Emtansine) can improve survival in patients with this particularly aggressive form of breast cancer and significantly reduce the risk of recurrence.
The treatment is particularly intended for patients in whom cancerous tissue remains detectable in the breast or lymph nodes after treatment with chemotherapy and antibodies prior to surgery. In the study, these patients received additional treatment with T-DM1, a so-called antibody-drug conjugate. Seven years after the start of the study, 89% of these patients were still alive. The risk of the cancer spreading to other parts of the body was also reduced. Prof. Dr Michael Untch, Chief Physician at Helios Hospital Berlin-Buch and Head of its Breast Centre, was involved in this important international study.

24.04.2024 – Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has expanded its radiotherapy services with an AI-supported procedure that can adapt treatment each day to the patient’s current anatomy. Using the high-tech “Ethos” system, an integrated CT scanner determines the position and size of the tumor and nearby organs immediately before irradiation. Based on these images, the optimal distribution of the radiation dose is calculated and then reviewed by medical specialists.
As a result, the tumor can be targeted more precisely while surrounding healthy tissue is better protected. The approach is particularly relevant for tumors whose position may change due to movements of the bowel, stomach, or bladder. Charité is initially using adaptive radiotherapy for prostate cancer, with further tumor types expected to follow. Accompanying studies are investigating which patients benefit most from the procedure. With this new technology, Berlin is further expanding its range of personalized, highly precise cancer treatments.

15.10.2021 – Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch introduced a semi-active robot called ROSA (Robotic Surgery Assistant) for knee joint surgeries and the insertion of an artificial knee joint (knee endoprosthesis). Since then the orthopaedics department headed by Prof. Dr. med. Daniel Kendoff is one of 15 clinics in Germany where these robot-assisted surgeries are possible. The use of this modern medical technology enables high-precision work and millimeter-precise insertion of the artificial knee joint. This is essential because a minimal misalignment of the prosthesis can potentially lead to permanent discomfort for the patient. With the robot, the sectional planes are clearly defined, while the instruments are manually handled by the surgeon. Pain and difficulties in moving the knee can thus be better avoided.

14.09.2018 – Only a few hospitals in Germany use the innovative Intraoperative Electron Radiation Therapy (IOERT) in treating breast cancer. At Helios Klinikum Berlin-Buch the electron radiation is applied directly to the residual tumor during surgery, a treatment proving highly effective. One minute of electron radiation can spare patients weeks of conventional external radiation therapy.

08.05.2018 – In a study published in May 2018, researchers from the Institute for Experimental Pediatric Endocrinology of the Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin have successfully treated patients whose obesity is caused by a genetic defect. The research at Europe’s largest university hospital in cooperation with the Clinical Research Unit at the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) could result in developing a new drug and, in the future, help patients with genetic obesity. 

03.01.2018 – At just eleven days old, Lotte is probably the youngest patient ever to undergo successful heart surgery of such complexity without receiving blood from a donor. For the operation at the Deutsches Herzzentrum Berlin (DHZB), a heart-lung machine specially developed for newborns was used. For years, DHZB surgeons and paediatric cardiologists have been working on systems that do not require donor blood. This minimizes the risks of infection and intolerance, and allows patients to recover more quickly. The DHZB is currently the only heart centre worldwide to routinely use these systems.

01.12.2016 – Since December 2016, Berlin has had an ultra-modern biobank, giving the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) access to a storage facility that is unique in Germany. In future, it will be possible to store up to two million lab samples from patients in the new building at the Campus Virchow-Klinikum and make them available for research purposes. Together with the corresponding treatment data, the biological material will be collected, encrypted and stored. The collection will allow the progression and causes of diseases to be better studied in future, and new personalized therapies to be developed.

10.11.2016 – Neuroscientist and stroke expert Professor Ulrich Dirnagl has received the 2016 Berlin Science Award. The accolade pays tribute to his numerous research contributions in the field of stroke research, cerebral blood flow and cerebral imaging. An internationally renowned scientist, he heads the Experimental Neurology department at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and is the director of the Center for Stroke Research Berlin. The award is endowed with 40,000 euros.