KLINIKUM DER TECHNISCHEN UNIVERSITÄT MÜNCHEN (TUM KLINIKUM)

Their core work

TUM Klinikum is the university hospital of the Technical University of Munich, one of Germany's top medical research institutions. They specialize in translational biomedical research — turning laboratory discoveries in immunology, oncology, neuroscience, and cardiovascular medicine into clinical applications. Their strength lies in advanced medical imaging (MRI, hybrid PET/MR), molecular diagnostics, and personalized medicine approaches for complex diseases including cancer, neurological disorders, and rare diseases. With a strong ERC grant portfolio, they combine deep basic science with clinical infrastructure to move findings from bench to bedside.

What they specialise in

How they've shifted over time

In the early period (2015–2018), TUM Klinikum focused heavily on fundamental biomedical research — tissue engineering (TETRA), B-cell immunology (GCB-PRID), biobanking infrastructure (ADOPT BBMRI-ERIC), and establishing MRI imaging platforms (ProFatMRI, iBack). From 2018 onward, the emphasis shifted toward precision diagnostics and data-driven medicine: multi-omics biomarker discovery, hybrid PET/MR imaging, neurodevelopmental conditions (autism, memory circuits), and participation in large-scale rare disease and cardiovascular programs. The trajectory shows a clear move from single-disease mechanistic studies toward integrative, multi-modal diagnostics that combine imaging with molecular data.

TUM Klinikum is converging imaging technologies with molecular omics data, positioning them as a partner for precision medicine projects that need both clinical imaging infrastructure and biomarker expertise.

How they like to work

TUM Klinikum leads nearly half its projects (22 of 49 as coordinator), with a particularly strong record of winning competitive ERC grants (10 Starting, 5 Consolidator, 4 Advanced), which are single-PI awards reflecting individual research excellence. In multi-partner projects they engage as substantive contributors rather than passive participants, and with 427 unique consortium partners across 39 countries, they are a well-connected hub rather than a closed shop. Their mix of solo ERC leadership and large consortium participation (e.g., AIMS-2-TRIALS, EJP RD) makes them comfortable in both modes.

With 427 unique partners across 39 countries, TUM Klinikum has one of the broadest collaboration networks among German university hospitals. Their partnerships span all of Europe with notable reach into associated countries, reflecting their role in large health and rare disease consortia.

What sets them apart

TUM Klinikum combines the clinical infrastructure of a major university hospital with the engineering and technology DNA of TU Munich — a rare pairing that enables them to develop and immediately test advanced imaging and diagnostic tools in a clinical setting. Their exceptional ERC success rate (19 grants across all three career stages) signals research teams that consistently win the most competitive European funding. For consortium builders, they offer a one-stop partner who can contribute molecular biology, clinical trials, medical imaging, and patient access under one institutional umbrella.

Highlights from their portfolio

• PanCaT
  Largest single project budget (EUR 2.44M) as coordinator, developing next-generation in vivo models for pancreatic cancer — a disease with very poor prognosis and high industry interest.
• BIOCARD
  EUR 2.29M ERC grant for deep modeling of human heart development, bridging developmental biology with cardiovascular medicine at an ambitious scale.
• AIMS-2-TRIALS
  Part of a major IMI public-private partnership on autism (running until 2026), showing TUM Klinikum's integration into Europe's largest collaborative clinical research initiatives.