Biotop-report 2011

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In Vitro-Diagnostics for the World Market

Berlin-Brandenburg  provides  exceptionally  broad  expertise  in  the  fields  of  bioanalytics 

and in vitro diagnostics in a large number of high performing companies and research 

institutions. More than 20 research facilities conduct basic and applied research that helps 

to identify new biomarkers and develop assays and platform technologies for diagnostic 

tools. More than 80 companies in the field are engaged in the development of innovative 

technologies and products covering a broad spectrum of themes.

Specific and reliable diagnostics can make a major contribution 

to the prevention and treatment of diseases. Given the chal-

lenges facing our health system today, it is therefore of consid-

erable importance. Bioanalytics includes all methods presently 

applied in biochemistry and molecular biology to investigate 

biologically active substances. In vitro diagnostics uses these and 

other methods to analyze human body fluids, cells or tissue out-

side the body and provide information that can then be used for 

the early detection and diagnosis of diseases and for monitoring 

disease progression and therapeutic success. In vitro diagnostics 

has grown in importance considerably in line with our increased 

ability to identify risk factors and serves as the foundation for 

decisions regarding the adoption of preventive measures. In vitro 

diagnostics therefore plays a central role in both out- and in-

patient care and in preventive medicine.

Berlin-Brandenburg covers the entire breadth of research, teach-

ing and patient care in the field of in vitro diagnostics. The clinics 

in the region also offer a broad patient collective for the imple-

mentation of clinical studies to validate biomarkers, consisting 

of urban and rural populations and a wide range of patients of 

international origin and presenting virtually all indication fields 

relevant  to  the  development  of  marketable  diagnostics.  The 

region therefore provides the full value chain from research to 

product development. This is why the development of innovative 

diagnostics has been a key focus area of the innovation policy 

master plan of Berlin and Brandenburg since 2005. 

In 2007 DiagnostikNet-BB was established as a network of 

diagnostics companies and research institutes as well as users 

at clinics and medical laboratories. It serves as a source for the 

launch of new joint R&D projects and as an information platform 

(www.diagnostiknet-bb.de).

In 2008 the Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Bioanalytics 

(ZMDB)  has  been  established  as  a  Flagship  Project  of  the  Joint 

Innovation Strategy Berlin-Brandenburg. The ZMDB serves as the 

platform for integration of regional expertise in basic research, 

technology development, clinical research and industrial applica-

tions. Its activities are guided by the Fraunhofer Institute for Bio-

medical Engineering (IBMT), Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin 

and companies in the region. (www.zmdb.de)

Dr. Sandra Luley

Global Marketing Manager for Applied Testing · QIAGEN

Innovative food analytics

»

In 2010 we purchased the molecular biological, PCR-based food safety 

test  product  line  of  the  Berlin  company  ifp  Institut  für  Produktqualität 

GmbH. The  quality  of  their  assays  and  their  manufacturing  expertise  make 

ifp an ideal partner for us. Their testing technologies excellently complement 

our workflow solutions from sample to result, as well as our existing overall 

product portfolio in the field of applied testing.

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New European IVD Initiative

Europe  concentrates  substantial  scientific  and  industrial  critical 

masses in the field of medical diagnostic. This domain covers a 

large range of activities, from academic research to development, 

production of in vitro diagnostic tests, and innovative ways to 

introduce new IVD technologies into healthcare. The trend toward 

personalized medicine and translational research will foster more 

than  ever  the  expectations  of  practitioners  for  specific  in  vitro 

diagnostic tests helping them in guiding their treatment deci-

sions.  This  trend  is  also  impacting  the  pharmaceutical  industry 

that will have to deliver in the near future companion diagnostics 

to their innovative therapeutics. 

In this context, the Center for Molecular Diagnostics and Bioan-

alytics  (ZMDB)  and  other  organizations  from  EU  member  states 

have founded the European Diagnostic Clusters Alliance (EDCA) 

that will help the European national players to become global 

leaders. EDCA partners include Euromediag, the diagnostic group 

of Eurobiomed cluster (France), Wal-Dx, the in vitro diagnostic 

group of the cluster BioWin (Wallonia - Belgium), Biocat (Barcelo-

na, Spain), Life Science Cluster Krakow (Poland), Nexxus Scotland 

(UK), OBN (Oxford BioCluster, UK), Uppsala Bio (Sweden) and ZMDB 

(Berlin, Germany). 

EDCA will help to identify and connect the “hot spots” of medical 

diagnostics players in Europe. Members will focus their partner-

ship on fostering innovation through collaborative R&D projects 

and technological platform shares. Within these perspectives, 

cross-fertilization between different technological fields will be 

strongly encouraged.

At IFCC-WorldLab Berlin 2011, the major global event of Laboratory Medicine 

and Clinical Chemistry, in May 2011, more than 4,000 delegates discussed 

newest developments in diagnostics and laboratory medicine.

BioWin Wallonia

 Liège, B 

Euromediag Languedoc-Roussillon

 Montpellier, F

ZMDB/TSB Berlin-Brandenburg

 D 

Oxfordshire Bioscience Network 

Oxford, UK 

Nexxus East of Scotland

 Edinburgh, UK 

Biocat Katalonien

 Barcelona, E 

UppsalaBio 

Uppsala, S 

Life Science Cluster Krakau

 POL

Dr. Andreas Weimann

COO

Labor Berlin – Charité Vivantes Services GmbH

20 Million Analyses per Year

»

In 2011 Labor Berlin was founded as the service subsidiary 

of Europe’s largest hospital laboratory for clinical patholo-

gy. The company offers complete solutions for any kind of test-

ing and performs more than 20 million analyses per year. It is 

the exclusive laboratory partner of Charité – Universitätsmed-

izin Berlin and the Vivantes Network for Health and provides 

the diagnostics for approximately 9,000 in-house patients a 

day and over 800,000 out-patients per year.

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