CME Training “Gene and Cell Therapy Compact: From Research to Primary Care”

Gene- and cell-based therapies are rapidly evolving from experimental concepts to clinical reality. Especially in the field of rare diseases, these approaches are opening up causal treatment options for the first time, where previously only symptomatic therapies were available. This brings genetic diagnostics, therapy options, and long-term care increasingly into everyday primary care. General practitioners play a central role in early detection, coordinating specialized care, and providing ongoing support and follow-up for affected patients and their families. A sound understanding of new therapeutic principles enables competent counseling and confident assessment of clinical developments.

Under the scientific direction and moderation of Prof. Annette Grüters-Kieslich, Chair of the Executive Board of the Eva Luise and Horst Köhler Foundation, three distinguished experts presented and explained the current state of these therapies on February 24, 2026, in a live talk on the STREAMED UP platform:

• Prof. Dr. Hildegard Büning, Hannover Medical School:
  “Gene- and cell-based therapies – when concepts become clinical reality”
• Prof. Dr. Boris Fehse, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf:
  “CAR-T: Immune cells as therapeutics”
• Prof. Dr. Axel Schambach, Hannover Medical School:
  “From therapeutic gene addition to targeted gene repair”

The live talk is a joint event by the Eva Luise and Horst Köhler Foundation, the National Strategy for Gene and Cell-Based Therapy, and the German Society for Gene Therapy e.V.