Merz at Research Institute: "This is the Future" - Germany’s Chancellor Tours TRON, Praising Its Cancer Immunotherapy Breakthroughs
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has visited TRON, a leading research institute in Mainz specialising in cancer immunotherapies and RNA-based vaccines. The institute was co-founded by Ugur Sahin and Özlem Türeci, the team behind BioNTech. During his tour, Merz praised the facility as a blueprint for Germany’s biotech ambitions.
TRON began as a spin-off from Mainz University Medical Center, with Sahin and Türeci playing key roles in its creation. The institute now focuses on cutting-edge research into immunotherapies for cancer and next-generation RNA vaccines. Merz described the work as both fascinating and encouraging, highlighting how university hospitals and research centres in Germany can collaborate effectively.
TRON’s work in immunotherapy and RNA technology has drawn high-level attention, with Merz positioning it as a cornerstone of Germany’s biotech strategy. The chancellor’s push for stronger European funding and talent retention signals growing political support for the sector. Whether these plans translate into concrete policies will shape the future of research institutes like TRON.
