4th DZG Munich Day 2026: AI-Driven Drug Repurposing Takes Center Stage at Munich Health Research Summit
核心洞察
The 4th DZG Munich Day 2026 convenes under the slogan "Munich meets Munich," bringing together researchers from all eight German Centers for Health Research to foster translational collaboration.
A headline panel titled "AI Meets Drug Repurposing" will feature experts from drug discovery, biomedical imaging, chemistry, and AI discussing how artificial intelligence can identify new indications for existing approved drugs.
The event, which attracted over 200 guests last year, will be opened by Prof. Martin Hrabě de Angelis and feature a video address by Federal Minister Dorothee Bär.
The 4th DZG Munich Day 2026 is set to convene researchers, clinicians, and policymakers under the slogan "Munich meets Munich," reinforcing the city's position as a hub for translational health research. The event, organized by the German Centers for Health Research (DZG) (搜索), is specifically aimed at Munich-based researchers affiliated with one of the eight DZG centers, while also drawing scientists from DZG sites across Germany.
Last year's gathering attracted more than 200 guests from research, healthcare, politics, and scientific organizations, establishing the event as a key platform for scientific exchange and project initiation in health research.
Prof. Martin Hrabě de Angelis, Scientific Director and Spokesperson for Helmholtz Munich (搜索) and member of the DZG Executive Board, will open the proceedings. Federal Minister of Research, Technology, and Space, Dorothee Bär, will deliver a welcome address via video message. Following these opening remarks, Prof. Stefanie Dimmeler, spokesperson for the DZG Executive Board, will provide an update on current developments and joint activities across the German Centers for Health Research.
AI Meets Drug Repurposing: A Signature Panel
A central highlight of the program is the panel discussion titled "AI Meets Drug Repurposing," which will explore how artificial intelligence can be harnessed to identify new therapeutic indications for existing or already approved drugs. The panel brings together a multidisciplinary group of experts: Kamyar Hadian (Drug Discovery), Ralf Huss (Managing Director, BioM (搜索)), Giulia Magno (physician-scientist), Julia Schnabel (AI for Biomedical Imaging), Stephan Sieber (chemist), and Fabian Theis (AI expert). Michael von Bergwelt, spokesperson for DKTK Munich (搜索), will moderate the discussion.
The session underscores a growing interest in leveraging computational approaches to accelerate drug development timelines and reduce costs by repurposing proven pharmacological agents for new clinical applications.
Transdisciplinary Research and Shared Mechanisms
A core theme of DZG Munich Day is the recognition that widespread diseases, despite differing clinical manifestations, often share common biological causes and mechanisms. The DZG's network of institutions is designed to exploit these synergies, creating opportunities to develop innovative research approaches and translate them more rapidly into medical application.
The program features current transdisciplinary projects spanning several key areas: biobanks as interfaces and drivers of research, the design, implementation, and key findings of the National Cohort (NAKO), and the interrelations between psychological problems in childhood and asthma in adolescence.
Supporting the Next Generation and Fostering Partnerships
Beyond scientific presentations, the agenda includes insights into the research conducted by all eight German Centers for Health Research, information about the M1 – Munich Medicine Alliance, and dedicated sessions on support programs for early-career researchers, including DZG programs and highlights from individual centers. A poster awards presentation will also take place.
The event is designed to facilitate networking and the establishment of new partnerships, offering researchers at all career stages—from early-career scientists to principal investigators—the opportunity to discuss shared perspectives and challenges in translational health research.