CRISPR base editing is a precise gene-editing technique that changes a single DNA base without cutting both strands of the DNA. It is derived from the CRISPR system (e.g., CRISPR-Cas9) but uses a modified Cas enzyme to chemically convert one base into another (such as C → T or A → G). This allows efficient correction of point mutations without unwanted DNA breaks.

My key driver is translating genome editing technologies into real clinical impact. Genome editing tools like CRISPR-based approaches, have the potential to fundamentally change how we treat genetic diseases, including cancer, and may also offer therapeutic opportunities for targets that are currently considered “undruggable”. Meanwhile, Cancer is a growing global health challenge rooted in genetic mutations and my goal is to contribute with my research to repairing cancer-causing mutations using pioneering genome editing technologies, to guide more effective therapies.

In recent years, CRISPR screens have opened the door to the systemic interrogation of the functional relevance of thousands of genes and therapeutic targeting of disease-specific mutations. While a big focus was put on monogenetic diseases, I have been fortunate during my thesis at the Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus Dresden to pioneer the applicability of this technology towards cancer diagnostics (PMID: 31078796  and PMID: 35802645). Seeing how discoveries move from the bench into the clinic, through collaborations with clinicians, has strongly shaped my translational research focus. Our nTTP-GCT project in particular offers a unique interdisciplinary setting that connects molecular biology with clinical expertise. Working with patient-derived organoids and the expertise of my first clinician scientist tandem partner Dr. Annina Meerz has made this especially tangible.

Publishing my article in Genome Biology (PMID: 40696461) and receiving the MSNZ grant to establish my own group were milestones that can be attributed to a solid scientific foundation, a supportive environment, and close interaction with clinical partners.

First, I was fortunate to work in Dresden in an ecosystem that encouraged translational thinking and provided the freedom to pursue ambitious ideas. One key lesson is that impactful science is rarely a solo effort. Mentorship, interdisciplinary collaboration, and persistence are crucial, and great ideas often rise from interdisciplinary, diverse teams. In addition, it is important to recognize one’s own limitations and to invest in potential collaborations. Another important point is (long-term) investment and trust in the next generation of scientists – e.g., by actively engaging in tutoring students of all stages in the laboratory. This way, the good high school/bachelor students of yesterday become the interested and capable PhD students of today. I have been fortunate to mentor eleven (PhD, Medical, Master’s and Bachelor’s) students throughout the past few years. Furthermore, I cannot emphasize enough the value of the excellent support I received myself, as it paved the way for everything that followed, especially from my mentors Prof. Dr. Frank Buchholz and Prof. Dr. Martin Bornhäuser, as well as Prof. Dr. Daniel Stange and Prof. Dr. Martin Wermke.

The paper recently published in Genome Biology builds on our earlier finding that correcting the TP53-R273H mutation - present in around 12,000 cancer patients annually in Germany - causes rapid depletion of cancer cells in cell lines and patient-derived organoids. Strikingly, after mutation correction, we observed a largely similar transcriptional response (through reactivation of p53 target genes), regardless of the cancer type. This result both offers a platform for identifying a mutation’s contribution to cellular fitness and the possibility for therapeutic repair of the mutated p53, a tumor suppressor protein nicknamed “the guardian of the genome”. It is important to note that strategies targeting p53 have been promising, but since p53 is a transcription factor, its defective protein has long been considered undruggable. Restoring wild-type p53 in its native context is the best approach to regain its function. We were delighted that our article was named “Paper of the Quarter” by the DG-GT.

Being accepted into the nTTP-GCT program was my first independent grant and a pivotal moment in my career. I greatly value the trust and recognition that come with such significant funding programs, as they are crucial for opening up further funding opportunities. In particular, my nTTP-GCT funding laid the foundation for the MSNZ funding, which, while scientifically independent from the nTTP-GCT project, places a strong emphasis on translational development and structured collaboration between medical and clinician scientists – with a particular focus on targeted tissue-specific delivery of CRISPR tools.

The joint nTTP-GCT project offered the perfect opportunity to combine organoid technology with CRISPR-Cas9 and the improved CRISPR-based base editors for gene editing as a powerful strategy to explore novel driver mutations and discover new therapeutic options. Since the start of the project, my tandem partner Dr. med. Annina Meerz and I have worked closely together, continuously exchanging resources and discussing our findings in regular meetings. This productive collaboration will continue in the future with my new tandem partner, Dr. med. Marie-Elisabeth Leßmann, who succeeded Dr. Meerz on February 1, 2026, and will continue the nTTP-GCT tandem project with me.

Regarding the specific offerings of the nTTP-GCT program, I particularly liked the fact that I was able to get in touch with the other nTTP-GCT fellows at our monthly Jours Fixes and its Crosstalk seminars. The program provides a great platform for discussions and potential collaborations where we can build on the network and experiences of the other fellows. In addition, I find the tailored training and education opportunities on various topics such as regulatory requirements, bioinformatics, and the SPARK-BIH-GCT lecture series particularly useful.

My top priority is to establish my research group and I am currently looking for suitable candidates to fill one postdoctoral and one TA position. Another focus also lies on securing additional funding for the upcoming years, to secure the talents I already recruited and to potentially attract further members to my group. My current efforts are directed toward leveraging my research outcomes in the coming years to obtain a tenure-track professorship.

With my research group, I plan to combine CRISPR-based characterization with lung cancer organoids. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths (approximately 250,000 cases per year) in the EU, and despite major advances in systemic therapies, partial remissions and rapidly acquired resistance often limit long-term success. The CRISPR system not only has the potential to identify new cancer-causing or resistance-driving mutations in lung cancer, but also enables molecular surgery by using CRISPR technologies to repair tumor mutations directly in vivo. We have recently achieved significant tumor regression with this approach in a pancreatic cancer mouse model. Adapting the system towards lung cancer, with huge pool of patients is straightforward and holds the promise of clinical translation. Nevertheless, we have to continue our efforts in tissue-specific delivery systems, such as lipid nanoparticles and viral vectors, to enhance the feasibility of this approach.

I believe we are currently witnessing a shift in the global scientific landscape toward greater decentralization, influenced in part by recent changes in research funding priorities and science policy leadership in the US. Therefore, initiatives within Germany/Europe such as the nTTP-GCT funding format are of utmost importance in retaining scientific talents in Germany/Europe and attracting talents from other parts of the world.

Like many others, I also considered a postdoctoral fellowship in the US. However, I am glad that I remained open-minded, focused on collaboration and mentoring, and am now looking forward to continuing my scientific career in Germany for the foreseeable future.

The nTTP-GCT program came at just the right time for me when I had a fantastic gene editing tool at hand that is efficient and well-tolerated in a wide range of cancer cell lines. The next logical step was to adapt the tool for clinical applications. The collaboration with Dr. Annina Meerz and Dr. Marie-Elisabeth Leßmann within the nTTP-GCT program perfectly complements our expertise. While my tandem partner has extensive experience in clinical oncology, I bring years of experience in gene editing and specific know-how in correcting (TP53) hotspot mutations. This special synergy enables us to effectively address both fundamental and applied research questions and pursue innovation at the highest level – which is exactly what makes the tandem format so special.