ESGCT 2025 | German Society for Gene & Cell Therapy
ESGCT 2025 in Seville, Spain, kicked off with an insightful conversation with Katrin Schröer and the German Society for Gene & Cell Therapy (DG-GT eV). She shared highlights of the groundbreaking work happening in gene and cell therapy across Europe and beyond, from innovative research to efforts that are shaping the future of the field. Her enthusiasm for the science makes it clear why this work is so inspiring and why gene and cell therapy can feel like real magic.
Learn more about their work at DG-GT eV.
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Aaron: Oh man, this is my third already. Hi everybody, I am here at ESGCT 2025 and I am now in the Society of Germany, Cell and Gene Therapy. Am I saying that correct? Is it the gene and cell therapy or cell and gene? Okay, I always wonder why it's not cell and gene or gene and cell. Does it even matter? I don't know. Does it matter?
Katrin: I don't think so. I would just say gene and cell therapy.
Aaron: Okay, so you are, of course, Katrin and you are studying biology and life sciences. Actually, no, you're postdoc now.
Katrin: Yes.
Aaron: And you have been doing research in breast cancer, I believe, correct?
Katrin: Yes.
Aaron: And you're here this year at ESGCT for the second time.
Katrin: Yes.
Aaron: Last time was two years ago in?
Katrin: Brussels.
Aaron: Brussels. And next year's going to be?
Katrin: In Germany in Hamburg actually. And you're going to be representing, yes? Yes. And we are the co-organisators too for our society.
Aaron: That's really exciting. So tell me why do you come to ESGCT here?
Katrin: So at ESGCT we like to connect because my PI is really like knowing much people and she's in the field of gene therapy, cell therapy, also oncolytic viruses and we know just a lot of people here and we connect, make like not only representative but also connect with other researchers, maybe collaborations and so on and this meeting is just like it's really nice. It's in Europe, it's every time at really nice location, all the people are so really friendly. So yeah, we love to come.
Aaron: I love how it brings the whole, all of Europe together.
Katrin: Yes.
Aaron: And it is a very collaborative industry as a whole, so it's really lovely to have a chance to be with each other. So tell me a little bit more about what your research is all about. I thought that was really fascinating when you told me earlier.
Katrin: So in my PhD in the lab of Virology and Microbiology from Professor Anja Erhard, I did research on human oncolytic adenoviruses for breast cancer therapy and we have a huge library of different species of adenoviruses and different types and we tested all of them and see and we're like figuring out which one are the best for breast cancer and I converted them to oncolytic adenoviruses with a cancer specific promoter and to have like ensuring replication of the viruses only in cancer cells. We also did animal experiments and we also have a patent on them. Yeah, the next goal is to make more animal experiments and maybe find a company with which we can collaborate.
Aaron: Okay, so if you're listening to this right now, they need a collaborator they can work with. That sounds really exciting! That could have real commercial application. That's very, very cool! Congratulations! That's really, really cool! Is there anything else that you're excited about this year at ESGCT that you're hearing about or that you're learning more about?
Katrin: So because I am first time representative of the DGGT, it's really nice to have the opportunity to connect with all the people, with all the societies from all the different countries, to learn all the really important people in the field, the big shots and so on, and also to be more social and more like the connection point between the old ones and the new ones and the early researchers. I really like it and also all the games and the funny stuff you can get, the merchandise.
Aaron: Okay, I want to predict the future. I think one day you're going to be a big shot too.
Katrin: No, I'm hopefully going to stay in academia.
Aaron: Okay, that's good. That's really good. That's excellent. So would you have any advice for folks that want to pursue the life sciences as a career?
Katrin: My advice is never lose patience, never lose your passion. Passion is the most important stuff. And you have to build up resilience. You have to be resilient at some point. And PIs are really important. You can talk to actually all PIs and they're only people. And if you're just friendly and approach them, it's... Yeah, they're only human. I learned that.
Aaron: They're only human. They like to collaborate. Yes. And they like to learn from each other, yes?
Katrin: Yes.
Aaron: Yes, I love that actually about the life sciences as a whole. You can find inspiration from anywhere and anyone could actually lead on something. It doesn't have to be just from one senior voice. It could be from anyone.
Katrin: Yes, of course. And also everybody has their weaknesses, everybody has their strengths and I think here everything is supported.
Aaron: Okay, so promoting your society for a moment, why should people join?
Katrin: So actually I'm quite new, but why should people join? Because we have a broad field of different PIs of different people from completely different fields and of course we are looking forward for gene and cell therapy for humans and to treat diseases with these kind of therapies and I think it's really going for the future so yeah that's why you should join our society.
Aaron: Okay, I like that. Is there anything that you're looking forward to in the next year that you're just really hearing about and very excited about as far as a trend in gene-insult therapy?
Katrin: Particularly not, because I'm more like the oncolytic guy, of course I'm looking forward for new oncolytic therapies. But I will also start a little bit on gene therapy I think next year. So yeah, I'm looking forward to try to maybe cure cancer one day with gene and oncolytic therapy.
Aaron: I need to read my shirt for a second.
Katrin: I have a sticker for that.
Aaron: You have a sick... So for those for those that are trying to read it yes, yes, the the magic is real.
Katrin: Yeah, and actually some people tell us, which are not in the field, they think like, wow, you are playing a god. Like, you're just playing god. And I was like, okay. Yeah, I guess. It's just science.
Aaron: It's just science. It's just science. Okay, Katrin, this has been excellent. So nice to meet you. If you're still here at ESGCT this week, please stop by the booth and say hello to the team here. And of course, next year we're to be joining them in Hamburg. Yes, very excited about it. Yes. Thank you. Very nice to meet you. Okay. Bye bye, everybody.
Would you like me to pull out the specific details regarding Katrin's oncolytic adenovirus research into a separate summary for a presentation or abstract?