# Medical advancements and research at Charité Berlin

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/medical-advancements-and-research-at-charit-berlin
> Updated: 2026-10-13T14:08:49.000Z. Sources: 41. Developments: 2.

Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin has reached significant milestones in genetic and viral disease research and treatment.

In May 2026, the hospital administered Germany’s first CRISPR-based gene therapy, Casgevy, to a 19-year-old patient with severe beta-thalassemia. The treatment, which modifies blood-forming stem cells to produce fetal hemoglobin, resulted in the patient no longer requiring regular blood transfusions four months post-infusion. While the therapy shows significant potential, medical professionals emphasize that long-term safety data is still being collected.

Subsequently, Charité inaugurated BeCURE, a new research center focused on finding cures or long-term control methods for HIV and other viral diseases. The center includes the Brown-Kahlert Study Center and aims to integrate basic and clinical research with social behavior studies and community involvement. 

The opening of BeCURE coincides with the eleventh anniversary of the stem cell transplant of Thomas Kahlert, a 62-year-old Charité employee and one of only 13 people worldwide known to be cured of HIV. Following an HIV diagnosis in 2009 and a subsequent leukemia diagnosis in 2015, Kahlert received a transplant from a heterozygous donor possessing both the normal and the mutated CCR5 receptor on October 14, 2015. This procedure has left both HIV and cancer cells undetectable in his system. BeCURE director Christian Gaebler noted that insights from this research could potentially be applied to other chronic viral infections, such as Hepatitis B.

## Claims

- Kahlert received a stem cell transplant from a healthy donor on October 14, 2015. (corroborated by 10 sources)
- Thomas Kahlert reports that he is doing very well. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- Thomas Kahlert is one of only 13 people worldwide known to be cured of HIV. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- The donor used in Kahlert's transplant possessed both the normal and the mutated CCR5 receptor. (corroborated by 9 sources)
- The Charité has opened BeCURE, a new HIV healing research center. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- BeCURE will combine basic research, clinical research, qualitative and social behavioral research, community involvement, and data analysis. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- Findings from HIV research may be transferable to other chronic viral diseases, such as Hepatitis B. (corroborated by 2 sources)
- The BeCURE center includes the Brown-Kahlert Study Center. (corroborated by 2 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-13: Charité opens BeCURE HIV research center in Berlin

The Charité in Berlin has opened BeCURE, an HIV research center, marking 11 years since Thomas Kahlert became one of only 13 people worldwide known to be cured of HIV via stem cell transplant.

37 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/liane-klauke-to-release-integrative-breast-cancer-book

### 2026-10-05: Charité Berlin administers first CRISPR gene therapy in Germany

A 19-year-old patient at Berlin's Charité has received Germany's first CRISPR-based gene therapy for beta-thalassemia, successfully reducing the need for regular blood transfusions.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/charit-berlin-administers-first-crispr-gene-therapy-in-germany

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Cite as: Medical advancements and research at Charité Berlin. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/medical-advancements-and-research-at-charit-berlin