Kiel Summer School: Focus on the future of spatial biology!

Kiel Summer School: Focus on the future of spatial biology!

On Monday, September 15, 2025, the KLS Summer School entitled “Spatial Biology in Health and Disease” began at the Christian Albrechts University in Kiel (CAU). This event is organized by the research focus “Kiel Life Science” (KLS) and attracts around 30 participants, including young scientists from eight nationwide and international research locations. The summer school lasts four days and ends on Thursday, giving participants the opportunity to engage intensively with the topic of spatial biology.

The focus of the KLS Summer School is on the analysis of biological molecules, cells and tissue in a three-dimensional context. Topics covered include microbiomes at the micrometer level, data analysis and integration, and their transfer to commercial applications. The organizers, including KLS spokesman Professor Thomas Bosch and other experts, aim to promote innovative approaches and cooperation in the Baltic Sea region. The program also takes into account career paths for life scientists outside of science.

Expertise and knowledge exchange

One of the highlights of the event is a lecture by Dr. Martin Seifert from 10xGenomics, who will talk about single cell and spatial analyses. Furthermore, Dr. Axel Koch from the CAU Transfer division will talk about the protection of intellectual property and patents. Both discourses offer valuable insights into current trends and challenges in research.

Another aspect of the KLS initiatives is the importance of data visualization in life science research projects. As part of the KLS New Year's reception on February 13, 2025 in the Kiel Zoological Museum, guest speaker Moritz Stefaner, information designer from Bremen, explained in his lecture "Knowing more beautifully - data visualization beyond the bar chart" how crucial data visualization is for research results. In this context, Professor Thomas Bosch emphasized that the visual representation of complex data sets not only contributes to better comprehensibility, but also promotes team collaboration and decision-making.

New research centers and future perspectives

As part of the further development of Kiel's life sciences, KLS planned to continue the cluster of excellence “Precision Medicine in Chronic Inflammation” (PMI) and introduced two new research centers: the Kiel Microbiome Center (KMC) and the Kiel Spatial Biology Center (KSBC). The KMC focuses on microbiomes and translational innovations to promote health, while the KSBC uses modern single-cell methods and imaging technologies to analyze biological processes and disease mechanisms. These initiatives are intended to ensure the competitiveness of Kiel as a science location and strengthen the networking of the life sciences in the Baltic Sea region.

Additionally, the importance of data visualization tools, which are essential for analyzing complex data sets in life sciences, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology, is highlighted. The most popular tools include Python libraries like Matplotlib and commercial platforms like Tableau. Their use makes it easier for researchers to recognize patterns and accelerate research progress.

Overall, with the annual summer school and the new research centers, KLS is pursuing a clear strategy to promote innovation and collaboration in life sciences. These initiatives are relevant not only for the participants of the KLS Summer School, but also for the entire scientific community, which can benefit from the ongoing developments in this dynamic field.