Winners 2025
Contact persons
Dr. Petra Burgstaller
Co-Lead Venture Creation & MAxL
Christina Enke-Stolle
Co-Lead Venture Creation & MAxL
Those were the 2025 m4 Award winners!
Dr. Michael Briese
Prof. Dr. Michael Sendtner
University Hospital of Würzburg
blockALZ - Blocking axonal Tau synthesis as new therapeutic strategy for treatment of Alzheimer‘s disease
Treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is one of the biggest challenges in current medicine. A major hallmark of AD is the aggregation of the Tau protein in axons of nerve cells. We have developed novel therapeutic antisense oligonucleotides (MAPT-ASOs), which block Tau protein synthesis selectively in axons and thereby prevent Tau aggregation in a highly targeted manner. The m4 award will enable preclinical optimization and testing of these lead candidates, which provides the basis for further clinical development in a spin-off company.
Dr. Matthias Heiß
Dr. Corinna Pleintinger
Yasmin Gärtner
Prof. Dr. Thomas Carell
Dr. Mike Rothe
Prof. Dr. Franziska Traube
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
EpiCure - Development of Next-Generation Epigenetic Cancer Therapeutics
EpiCure develops epigenetically active agents for cancer therapy. Despite tremendous research progress, more than 750,000 people die of hematologic neoplasms every year because current therapies are limited by high toxicity or limited efficacy. EpiCure’s lead candidate is based on targeted molecular modification and compared to the standard of care shows significantly improved efficacy with 100-fold reduced toxicity. The m4 award will fund critical preclinical studies that will lay the regulatory foundation for first-in-human studies and advance EpiCure's spin-out. (https://www.linkedin.com/company/epicure-pharma).
PD Dr. Dr. Peter Dietrich
Dr. Laura Wormser
Dr. Michael Hannus
Universitätsklinikum Erlangen
iLivE – Inhibition of the Liver Ecosystem
Liver metastases are among the most common causes of cancer-related deaths. The reason why almost all cancer types prefer to form metastases in the liver remains poorly understood. Within the iLivE project, we identified a protein produced by liver cells that actively attracts tumor cells and promotes their colonization and growth within the liver. Based on this finding, iLivE developed a novel therapeutic concept: instead of targeting tumor cells directly, they use RNA interference (RNAi) to specifically target this key molecule in the liver. This prevents the formation of a pro-metastatic niche – an innovative approach that shifts the therapeutic focus to the tumor microenvironment.
Dr. Florian Giesert
Prof. Dr. Fabian Theis
Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wurst
Leon Hetzel
Dr. Christoph Gruber
Helmholtz Munich
SYNTRA: AI-assisted development of synthetic RNA transfer vehicles
The targeted delivery of therapeutic RNA is crucial for modern gene therapies – yet it remains a major challenge. SYNTRA is developing RNA transfer vehicles (STVs) with the help of artificial intelligence (AI) that, for the first time, enable safe and precise RNA therapy. Generative AI is used to create design variants of these vehicles. This modularity makes it possible to deliver therapeutic RNA with high precision and efficiency specifically into disease-relevant cell types. In this way, STVs enable the targeted treatment of a wide range of genetic and non-genetic diseases.
PD Dr. Sigrid Bülow
Martina Toelge
Christina Pfab
Sarah Hirsch
Lisa Reinstein
University Hospital Regensburg
TBrake – Attenuation of excessive T-cell activation in rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common autoimmune disease which leads to severe impairment of patients, especially when established treatment regimens fail. The inhibitory antibody TBrake is highly efficient in controlling the activation of T cells and other immune cells by targeting a previously unknown, highly inflammatory pathway. During the funding by the m4 Award, TBrake will be optimized and validated in preclinical studies. Along with our expertise and the input of experienced partners, this milestone forms the basis for the progression to the clinical phase and the foundation of a successful spin-off company.
TBrake video portrait (YouTube)