BeCAT Celebrates Opening of New Manufacturing Facility in Berlin
On 30 September 2026, the Berlin Center for Advanced Therapies (BeCAT), led by Prof. Dr med. Annette Künkele-Langer, who also coordinates the JOIN4ATMP project, celebrated the opening of its new manufacturing facility at Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin with an international scientific symposium.
The event brought together experts from academia, clinical practice, regulatory authorities, industry and patient organisations to exchange perspectives on the latest developments and future opportunities in cell and gene therapies.
Bridging the gap between research and patient care
BeCAT aims to accelerate the development and clinical translation of innovative advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs), including cell and gene therapies. These promising treatments have the potential to address the underlying causes of diseases rather than merely treating their symptoms, offering new hope to patients with conditions that are currently difficult or impossible to cure.
The new Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility provides dedicated infrastructure for the development and manufacture of innovative cell and gene therapies for clinical use. By strengthening manufacturing capabilities, BeCAT aims to facilitate the translation of promising scientific discoveries into new treatment options for patients.
Bringing together expertise from Charité, the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), the Max Delbrück Center and other research institutions, BeCAT seeks to advance innovative therapies towards early clinical trials. Its activities are particularly relevant to cancer research, while also offering opportunities for the treatment of immunological diseases and regenerative medicine.
A shared vision for advancing ATMPs in Europe
The opening symposium highlighted the importance of collaboration, specialised manufacturing infrastructure and strong research networks in bringing innovative therapies closer to patients.
In her opening keynote, Prof. Annette Künkele-Langer shared her vision for BeCAT's future: “There is still a lot of hard work ahead of us, and we are only just getting started. But in five years' time, I would like to open a symposium at BeCAT with many successfully treated patients standing beside me, sharing how ATMPs have changed their lives.” *
Taking place just one day before the JOIN4ATMP 3rd Annual Meeting in Berlin, the event also demonstrated the close alignment between BeCAT's mission and JOIN4ATMP's objectives. While BeCAT provides essential infrastructure and expertise for developing and manufacturing advanced therapies, JOIN4ATMP works to identify and overcome the wider scientific, regulatory, manufacturing and economic barriers that hinder ATMP development and patient access across Europe.
Both initiatives share a common ambition: to accelerate the translation of scientific innovation into clinical practice and improve access to advanced therapies for patients in need.
Further information:
BeCAT Opening Symposium website
* quote taken and translated from: "BeCAT Eröffnungssymposium diskutiert aktuelle Entwicklungen rund um gen- und zellbasierte Arzneimittel“, 09/10/2026, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (in German)
