The Boehringer Ingelheim Ulm University BioCenter is entering its third phase under the name BIU 3.0 at the beginning of 2025. The partners are thus continuing their collaboration, which has been in place since 2011, until 2030.The common goal: to accelerate the development of new therapies by incorporating new findings from basic research directly into the development process.

The BIU BioCenter is a unique success story in Germany for a public-private partnership in the biomedical field. Now, Ulm University and the pharmaceutical company Boehringer Ingelheim have extended their collaboration for the second time. "With BIU 3.0, we are continuing this successful collaboration. We want to keep combining our expertise for the benefit of patients," emphasises the new BIU BioCenter spokesperson, Professor Pamela Fischer-Posovszky. The scientist conducts research in the field of metabolism and experimental endocrinology at the University Clinic for Paediatrics and Youth Medicine. "The BIU BioCenter brings together our complementary strengths in the region – on the one hand, basic research and access to patients through the university, and on the other hand, efficient research and development of novel therapeutic approaches. A win-win situation," says BIU deputy spokesperson Dr. Dirk Stenkamp. The head of Boehringer Ingelheim's research site in Biberach, Germany, is one of the initiators of this special partnership between science and industry.

"The mission of the BIU BioCenter is to transfer findings from biomedical basic research into new approaches for the diagnosis and therapy of common diseases," says Professor Klaus-Michael Debatin, long-standing BIU spokesperson and also co-founder of the research network. The current director of the Ulm site of the German Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ) was Medical Director of the Ulm University Hospital for Child and Adolescent Medicine for many years.

What makes the BIU BioCenter special is that researchers from the university and the company work side by side on the individual projects – from the outset. The research conducted at the centre is collaborative and covers cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, neuropsychiatric disorders, and lung diseases. It also includes cross-cutting topics such as immunomodulation and the exploration of new, potentially groundbreaking ideas beyond these focus areas.

"The research partnership between Boehringer Ingelheim and Ulm University also offers great opportunities for young scientists. BIU doctoral researchers receive training at both Boehringer and the university," explains Professor Thomas Wirth, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine.

At the kick-off symposium for BIU 3.0 at the end of July, more than 40 researchers presented their ideas for the new project phase. Projects that are considered relevant by both sides will now be reviewed. Approved main projects can receive up to 100,000 euros per year for two years. Pilot projects are eligible for funding of 40,000 euros for one year. The programme starts in January 2025.

Impressive track record of BIU 2.0

The basis for the continuation of the collaboration is the impressive track record of its predecessor, BIU 2.0. This is reflected in 23 scientific publications.
Examples of research results include:

• Researchers at Ulm University and Boehringer Ingelheim have used AI algorithms to discover patterns in complex, multi-dimensional neurophysiological data. These show the effects of pharmacological agents on neuronal activity and communication between different brain regions.
• In the area of cardiometabolic diseases, a microRNA was discovered that improves the uptake of glucose into fat cells. Whether influencing this microRNA has therapeutic potential for diabetics must now be investigated.
• Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is a metabolic inflammation of the liver that is common in patients with diabetes and/or obesity. It is one of the main causes of liver cirrhosis, liver failure and liver cancer. In one of the projects, inflammation patterns and new blood biomarkers of different disease stages were identified that correlate with the liver status of MASH patients. These results could enable earlier diagnoses, new therapeutic approaches and better control of new therapies.
• In the area of pulmonology, the development of meaningful cell models has led to new insights into the development and progression of pulmonary fibrosis. This work also identified potential targets for future therapeutic approaches

Text and media contact: Andrea Weber-Tuckermann