Regensburg researchers receive BioPark Innovation Prize

Sascha Göttert and Dr. Erik Thiele Orberg have been awarded the 2026 BioPark Innovation Prize for their research on the therapeutic use of Desaminotyrosine (DAT). Their work focuses on intestinal regeneration during allogeneic stem cell transplantation and other cellular immunotherapies.

Their research addresses Graft-versus-Host Disease (GvHD), a common complication in treating hematological cancers where donor T-cells damage the intestinal mucosa. The researchers demonstrated that DAT, a synthetic microbial metabolite, can promote intestinal regeneration and serve as a tool for preventing or treating GvHD, supplementing immunotherapies and predicting treatment outcomes. The technology, which has a patent pending, holds significant potential for development alongside pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies.