We would like to take this moment to reflect on what TRAIN is, how it was established and what its founders made possible.
🧬๐ช๐ต๐ฎ๐ ๐ถ๐ ๐ง๐ฅ๐๐๐ก?: The Translationsallianz in Niedersachsen (TRAIN) is a network of leading universities and non-university research institutions in Lower Saxony. Its starting point is a simple question: how can scientists, physicians and other professionals work together so that research findings reach patients as new drugs, therapies and treatments? Translational research seeks precisely this bridge between basic discovery and practical application and TRAIN was formed to strengthen that bridge across institutional boundaries.
🏛️ ๐ข๐ฟ๐ถ๐ด๐ถ๐ป๐ ๐ถ๐ป 2008: TRAIN was founded in 2008. The founding circle brought together representatives from Leibniz Universitรคt Hannover, Medizinische Hochschule Hannover, Helmholtz-Zentrum fรผr Infektionsforschung, Stiftung Tierรคrztliche Hochschule Hannover, Technische Universitรคt Braunschweig and Fraunhofer ITEM. Prof. Krug was among those founding members and he has shaped the network since its earliest days.
📈 ๐๐ฒ๐๐ฒ๐น๐ผ๐ฝ๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐: Over the years, TRAIN has evolved considerably. New partners joined, including TWINCORE GmbH, Serum Life Science Europe GmbH, NIFE Hannover, Leibniz-Institut DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH, Universitรคtsmedizin Gรถttingen and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt, PTB. The alliance moved from building infrastructure to shaping programs. Its activities today include TRAIN Omics for omics technologies, the TRAIN Academy for translational training, the BIOMEDAS PhD program, the Biomedical Transfer Circle in collaboration with IBT Lower Saxony โ Institute for Biomedical Translation and now Startup Factory GOe FUTURE as well as various collaboration projects as MoReHealth Niedersachsen and ExTENd – Expertise & Technology Exchange Niedersachsen.
🙏 ๐ข๐๐ฟ ๐ง๐ต๐ฎ๐ป๐ธ: Prof. Krug’s contribution goes beyond any single project. Through his commitment to translation and his engagement in building cooperation across institutions he helped turn a regional initiative into an established scientific network. The principles he helped establish continue to guide our work and the collaborations he built remain at the heart of the alliance.
On behalf of the entire TRAIN network, we thank Prof. Krug sincerely for his dedication, his vision and his many years of trust in this joint endeavor. We wish him all the very best for the future.