Helmholtz Pioneer Campus researchers Fabian Theis and Paolo Casale discuss how Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning are changing biology and medicine. The emerging computational tools are undeniably valuable in organizing the vast amounts of data modern Biology generates – and predicting outcomes with an accuracy that often surpassess human experts. But can AI also help us understand biological processes? Cambridge University Professor Mihaela van der Schaar gives her perspective on the interpretability problem; she also talked about how we can make the field more inclusive and the importance of collaborating with researchers outside of traditional STEM disciplines. It’s biomedical AI, from clinical diagnostics and cell atlases to a new understanding of biology and disease.

Helmholtz Pioneer Campus researchers Vasilis Ntziachristos and Janna Nawroth represent complementary branches of bioengineering: Nawroth mines basic research on the structure & function of organisms to develop novel technology; Ntziachristos applies his engineering know-how and approaches to create new solutions for biomedical problems. We also spoke with Duke University’s Nimmi Ramanujam about bringing bioengineering advances to bear on the needs of marginalized or economically disadvantaged communities. All three researchers gave their perspectives on recruiting and training the next generation of bioengineers.

Helmholtz Pioneer Campus researchers Maria Elena Torres-Padilla and Boyan Bonev discuss how the organism uses the same epigenetic toolkit to perform tasks as diverse as maintaining the totipotency of stem cells and differentiating cortical neurons. Wolf Reik discovered some of the first molecular mechanisms responsible for epigenetic imprinting of the genome. As the Director of the Altos Cambridge Institute of Science, Reik now explores the therapeutic potential of epigenetic approaches to ageing and regenerative medicine – a goal shared by the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, where Torres-Padilla serves as the Director of Biomedicine. It’s epigenetics, from embryogenesis to senescence, on this episode of Bioengineering the Future of Medicine.

Mathias Tschöp is a physician, a scientist, and the Chief Executive Officer of Helmholtz Munich. Tschöp is the rare scientist who can look back on a road that started with basic research in mice and led up to new therapies for patients, revolutionizing the treatment of obesity.