Challenges in Translational Medicine
Translating scientific concepts into clinical applications is a major contemporary challenge in medical health care. Expiring patents, empty pipelines and the increasing complexity of product development in the era of individualized medicine mean that even large pharmaceutical companies cannot address these challenges alone. At the same time, increasing regulatory requirements and costs have seen public research organizations virtually suspend the clinical translation of new scientific insight. Here in Mainz, we believe mastering these challenges is possible through cooperation between our first-rate research institute and private companies specializing in innovative product development.

Founding of TRON
TRON was founded in 2010 as a non-profit limited liability company to address these challenges. Co-founders Ugur Sahin, Christoph Huber and Özlem Türeci’s vision for TRON is to facilitate clinical translation of innovative science by interfacing between public and private stakeholders and bridging the gap between research insight and mature product development. The state Rhineland-Palatinate, the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, and the University Medical Center Mainz, are also stakeholders. In July 2011, Michael Föhlings, responsible for Finance and Administration, became, together with Ugur Sahin, a member of the Management Board. Ugur Sahin served as Managing Director (Scientific Activities) from 2010 to 2019 and now supports TRON as a scientific adviser. Christoph Huber, with his passion for cancer immunotherapy and effective transdisciplinary collaboration, continues to guide TRON as an adviser of the management and the Supervisory Board.

Prof. Dr. Ugur Sahin

Prof. Dr. Özlem Türeci
