Research, Innovation, Patient care / 07.09.2023
"Drivers for Germany's Future Sustainability"

The UNIPRENEURS Initiative has recognized the entrepreneurial spirit of 20 professors, among them ECRC researcher Simone Spuler. As a co-founder of the startup MyoPax, she is pioneering stem cell technology to develop regenerative therapies for previously incurable muscle diseases.

The UNIPRENEURS Initiative has honored 20 distinguished professors for their dedication to university spin-offs and their entrepreneurial endeavors. These awardees have made significant contributions to the translation of innovations into the business sphere.

Among the honorees is Professor Simone Spuler. In 2022, the scientist, working at the Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), a joint institution of Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the Max Delbrück Center, co-founded MyoPax with Dr. Verena Schöwel-Wolf, a medical doctor. MyoPax is committed to developing regenerative therapies aimed at alleviating the effects of previously incurable muscle diseases. Their innovative approach combines cell and gene therapy to restore muscle tissue function.

The awards ceremony took place on September 6, 2023, at the Allianz Forum near the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. Distinguished guests such as the Federal Minister for Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, and Dr. Anna Christmann, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Start-ups at the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action, commended the honored professors. "We aim to bolster entrepreneurial activities at our universities. Professors play a pivotal role in this endeavor. They significantly contribute to the culture of entrepreneurship in academia and serve as crucial drivers for Germany's innovation and future sustainability," stated Stark-Watzinger.

About UNIPRENEURS

UNIPRENEURS is an initiative dedicated to fostering university spin-offs in Germany. It operates under the patronage of the Federal Ministry for Education and Research and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action. In collaboration with partner organizations such as the Stifterverband für die Deutsche Wissenschaft (Donors' Association for the Promotion of Sciences and Humanities in Germany), the Startup Association, Bitkom, and AddedVal.io, UNIPRENEURS has established an initiative that recognizes top professors for their outstanding contributions to university spin-offs.

Further information

• New muscle therapy gets fast-track boost
• MyoPax launches in Berlin
• Millions in Funding for MyoPax
• UNIPRENEURS Profile: Simone Spuler
• Spuler Lab
• Myology

Source: https://www.mdc-berlin.de/news/news/drivers-germanys-future-sustainability