On January 9, 2026, the Mark Foundation for Cancer Research welcomed a delegation from SaxoCell e.V., a German consortium of research institutions, clinics, and companies, to our New York City office to officially launch a new strategic cooperation.
Part of the SMAC-GT project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology, and Space (BMFTR) as part of its INITIATES: Research with North America program, this partnership is designed to strengthen trans-Atlantic collaboration to advance cell and gene therapies for cancer.
Setting the Research Agenda
During a kickoff workshop, leadership from both organizations met to align on a joint research agenda. Our team—including Ryan Schoenfeld, Raymond DuBois, Becky Bish, and Rob Magin—engaged with SaxoCell’s Ulrike Köhl, Martin Bornhäuser, Frank Buchholz, Maren Henneken, and Lorenz Mayr to define the next steps for long-term collaboration. This meeting follows several months of preparatory discussions and marked the starting point for deeper scientific exchange.
Building Bridges in Cancer Research
By connecting SaxoCell’s established industry-academic network with our global research community, we aim to build a sustainable bridge for innovation. In the coming year, key areas of focus for this collaboration include knowledge exchange and the establishment of new collaborations through workshops and symposia in the US and Germany, as well as opening the door to additional partners. The Mark Foundation looks forward to working closely with our colleagues at SaxoCell to drive innovation in cancer research.