During summer break, 25 teens between the ages of 13 and 19 spent a week at the Gläsernes Labor on the Berlin-Buch campus conducting their own research on the DZKJ’s key research areas: “Rare Genetic Diseases” and “Immune System, Inflammation, Infections.”
Instead of a traditional vacation, the participants’ schedule consisted of everyday lab work: pipetting, vortexing, PCR, and a look into their own genetics.
The project week, launched in 2025 as a joint initiative of the DZKJ, the Gläsernes Labor, and the Max Delbrück Center, is aimed at young people interested in the natural sciences who have registered voluntarily and on their own initiative.
The “Rare Diseases” group focused, among other things, on the analysis of tissue samples using PCR; the “Immunology” group explored blood types, white blood cells, and allergies, and also visited the “Molecular Genetics of Allergic Diseases” research group led by Prof. Young-Ae Lee at the Max Delbrück Center, who also conducts research as a principal investigator (PI) at the DZKJ. The program was complemented by insights into current research: Dr. Kerstin Fentker from the research group of DZKJ principal investigator Dr. Philipp Mertins at the Max Delbrück Center presented her DZKJ-funded work on cystic fibrosis, a rare genetic disorder. The challenges of everyday research, such as fluctuating sample quality, were also discussed.
The format focuses on a hands-on approach: the goal is to give young people a realistic picture of what research aimed at improving children’s health actually looks like. The positive feedback from the participants—many of whom would have liked to spend even more time exploring the topics—encourages the project partners to further develop the format.
“Molecular…” research group…
Links:
https://glaesernes-labor.de/de/news/projektwoche-dzkj-2026
https://www.mdc-berlin.de/de/news/news/am-coolsten-ist-das-vortexen
https://www.campusberlinbuch.de/de/news/dzkj-projektwoche-26
Image: © Gläsernes Labor
