Following the successful piloting of the national Translational Tandem Program for Gene- and Cell-based Therapies (nTTP-GCT) in early 2025, the second call for applications was published in summer:
From June to August, tandems – consisting of a junior clinician (JCS) and a translational scientist (TS) – with a joint translational research project in the field of GCT were able to apply for two years of funding. A total of 17 tandem applications were submitted.
The number of inquiries and applications submitted for this second call, as well as the locations of the applicants, indicate both an increased awareness of the program and a need for this funding format.
All applications were evaluated by the national nTTP-GCT jury and the ten highest-rated tandems were invited to present themselves and their projects to the jury in a digital selection colloquium. The pitches were of high quality, and the selection process was highly competitive. Based on the available budget, six tandems were selected for funding.
Starting in 2026, twelve new talented and committed clinical and non-clinical scientists will benefit from the funding, advance their projects, and expand their knowledge and networks specifically related to GCT!
The new fellows come from Heidelberg University Hospital, Tübingen University Hospital, Greifswald University Hospital, Hannover Medical School, and Charité/BIH in Berlin. The first three institutions were not previously represented in the nTTP-GCT.
This means that, from 2026 on, a total of 30 translational talents from eight German cities will be receiving personnel funding.
At the planned kick-off and networking event in Berlin in March 2026, the fellows of the pilot cohort and the second cohort will get to know each other and thus contribute to the program's goal of “national GCT network expansion.”
More information on the objectives and focus of the nTTP-GCT can be found HERE