The EMBRACE research project officially launched with a successful kick-off event on November 12, 2026, in Heilbronn. Researchers from the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the MOLIT Institute came together at the premises of the Dieter Schwarz Stiftung to lay the groundwork for close collaboration at the intersection of tumor biology, data science, and artificial intelligence.
EMBRACE aims to develop so-called virtual patients. To this end, patient-derived tumor models, modern imaging, omics technologies, and AI-based analyses are being integrated into a shared research platform.
At the MOLIT Institute, Martin Jechlinger, Senior Scientist and Head of the Tumor Biology & Research Lab, and Stefan Sigle, Head of Data Science & AI, are contributing their expertise to the project. Together with the participating EMBL groups, they are laying the foundation for innovative virtual patient models and new approaches in personalized medicine.
The successful project kickoff marks the start of a three-year collaboration that combines biological research and artificial intelligence in an innovative “Lab-in-the-Loop” approach. The project is funded by the Dieter Schwarz Stiftung.
Further information on the EMBRACE project: https://www.molit.eu/en/embrace-en/