Deutsche Forschungsge meinschaft
The Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) is the self-governing body of the German scientific community. As a non-profit, non-governmental organization, DFG serves all fields of science and the humanities by funding research projects and promoting co-operation among researchers. DFG fosters relations between academic research and the private sector as well as international collaboration in research. It devotes particular attention to the promotion of young scientists. As part of its statutory mandate, DFG also advices parliaments and governments on scientific matters.
In organisational terms DFG is an association under private law. Its members are German universities, research institutions, scientific associations, and the academies of science. DFG receives funds from the Federal government and the 16 Länder governments, which are represented on all decision-making bodies.
DFG`s funding portfolio is designed to meet the diverse needs of the research community. With a broad range of programmes, DFG supports research projects in all disciplines: the humanities and social sciences, biology and medicine, as well as the natural and engineering sciences. Every researcher in Germany who has completed his or her doctorate is entitled to apply to DFG for financial assistance. A competitive multistage peer review system awards financial support for research projects solely on the basis of scientific excellence and thus ensures a quality-based allocation of funds.
Recent Funding Activities
German Research Foundation (DFG)
- Excellence Initiative: Excellence Cluster 168, Dresden: “From Cells to Tissues to Therapies”
- Excellence Initiative: Excellence Cluster 62, Hannover: “From Regenerative Biology to Reconstructive Therapy”
- Collaborative Research Centre 488, Heidelberg: “Molecular und Cellular Basis of Neuronal Developmental Processes”
- Collaborative Research Centre 655, Dresden: “Cells into Tissues, Stem Cell and Progenitor Commitment and Interactions during Tissue Formation”
- Transregional Collaborative Research Centre TRR 3, Bonn: “Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsies”
- National Priority Programme 1356 “Pluripotency and Cellular Reprogramming”
- Clinical Research Unit 136, Hannover: “Regeneration and Adaptation in the Cardiovascular System: Molecular Signalling Pathways und Mechanisms”
- Research Unit 717, Düsseldorf: “Unrestricted Somatic Stem Cells from Umbilical Cord Blood (USSC)”
- individual grants programme
DFG funding of stem cell research in 2007 was ~ 13.5 million Euros, 2008 figures are being prepared.
- Priority Funding “Cell based Regenerative Medicine”
- Priority Funding “Biological Organ Substitutes”
- Priority Funding “Tissue Engineering”
- Priority Funding “Derivation of multipotent and pluripotent stem cells”
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BMBF funding of stem cell research in 2007 was 11.8 million Euros
Legal Issues
In Germany studies in the field of human embryonic stem cell research are regulated by the Embryo Protection Act (EschG) from 1990 and the Stem Cell Act ("Law to Ensure the Protection of Embryos in Connection with the Importation and Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells" [StZG] from 2002, modified in 2008). According to the Embryo Protection Act, the establishment of human embryonic stem cell (hESC) lines in Germany is prohibited by criminal sanctions. As an exception, hESC lines that were established in foreign countries before 01 May 2008 may be imported to Germany for research purposes (regulated by the Stem Cell Act). Such lines must have been established from "supernumerary" IVF embryos. This means from such embryos that were generated for purposes of reproduction, but no longer can be transferred to a woman. The evaluation is undertaken by an interdisciplinary "Central Ethics Committee for Stem Cell Research" (ZES) composed of natural scientists, medical researchers and humanities scholars. It proceeds in accordance with the StZG and the resulting opinions are forwarded to the Robert Koch Institute which makes the final decision concerning the applications.
On 10 November 2006 DFG released its statement “Stem Cell Research in Germany – Possibilities and Perspectives” with the aim to improve the basic conditions for stem cell research. On 14 August 2008 the German Parliament modified the stem cell act and made the following changes:
- The qualifying date (deadline) for the import of hES cell lines was moved from 01 January 2002 to 01 May 2007, allowing the import of hESC lines generated before May 2007.
- The threat of criminal sanctions for German scientists and the scope of the Stem Cell Act has been limited to activities carried out in Germany.
Since the Stem Cell Act has come into force, 40 research applications (status 7 April 2009) for the importation of hESC lines have been approved (current list at http://www.rki.de). Nine of these applications included hESC the use of which would not haven been permitted by the old 2002 version of the Stem Cell Act with the old qualifying date 01. January 2001.
DFG is continuing its support for stem cell science. This year there is a joint call between the Chinese NSFC and DFG being evaluated addressing basic principles of stem cell biology.
Outlook:
Since there had been significant progress in the field of induced pluripotency in the last months it is unlikely that there will be any attempts to further liberalize the German legislation on hESC anytime soon.
Recent research achievements
Although the selection of research achievements is subjective, among others, the following studies demonstrated a significant success in the field:
· Thomas Skutella, Tübingen: Generation of pluripotent stem cells from adult human testis, Nov. 2008 (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v456/n7220/full/nature07404.html)
· Hans Schöler, Münster: Reprogramming of adult neural stem cells with only Oct 4, Feb. 2009 (http://www.cell.com/retrieve/pii/S0092867409000713)
· Hans Schöler, Münster: Reprogramming of adult neural stem cells with only two factors, June 2008 (http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v454/n7204/full/nature07061.html)
· Oliver Brüstle, Bonn: Deriving of so-called brain stem cells from human embryonic stem cells, Jan. 2009 (http://www.pnas.org/content/106/9/3225.abstract)
A profile of the organisation is available on the DFG website: http://www.dfg.de/
For research funding information see DFG support for stem cell research.
