Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology in Leipzig celebrates its 20th anniversary

Today, around 600 employees work on an annual project volume of around 40 million euros. The institute specialises in areas such as cell and gene therapy, vaccines, molecular diagnostics and extracorporeal therapies, thereby specifically supporting the transfer of basic medical research into clinical application. The institute gained international visibility through its involvement in the clinical development of the first CAR-T cell therapy authorised in Europe. To date, over 600 such cell products have been produced for clinical trials in the Institute's clean rooms. The Fraunhofer IZI has also set standards in the field of innovative vaccine technologies, for example with a novel method for inactivating pathogens using low-energy electron radiation. This technology is considered a promising approach for the production of cost-effective inactivated vaccines and could also be used for cell-based immunotherapies. Over the past two decades, the institute has been involved in more than 100 research and development projects and has established itself as an important partner for companies, clinics and research institutions. The anniversary celebration was attended by representatives from science, business and politics, including Saxony's Minister President Michael Kretschmer and Leipzig's Lord Mayor Burkhard Jung. The institute is looking to the future with a clear strategic focus on immuno-oncology and infection pathology and wants to continue to make a significant contribution to the development of innovative therapies.

News from "Fraunhofer IZI" from 30.04.2025