Research / 06.02.2026
Leif Si-Hun Ludwig awarded professorship

Leif Si-Hun Ludwig has been awarded a prestigious Heisenberg professorship in stem cell dynamics and mitochondrial genomics by the the Berlin Institute of Health at Charité, a position funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG).

Professor Leif Si-Hun Ludwig has led an Emmy Noether Research Group at the Berlin Institute of Health and the Max Delbrück Center since 2020. He has now been awarded a Heisenberg Professorship for Stem Cell Dynamics and Mitochondrial Genomics by the the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH) at Charité, a position funded by the German Research Foundation. Ludwig’s professorship will transition into a permanent role following an initial five-year funding period.

Studying how blood cells form

The human blood system is a marvel of constant regeneration, with millions of new cells replacing old blood and immune cells every second. These cells originate from hematopoietic (or blood-forming) stem cells in the bone marrow, maturing through several different developmental stages into the red and white blood cells, platelets, and B and T cells that keep us alive. While clinical blood tests can easily count these cells, determining the specific contribution of thousands of individual stem cells to overall blood production remains a significant challenge.

By observing natural mutations in human DNA, researchers can gain fundamental insights into how stem cells maintain healthy blood formation or how they behave when disease strikes. However, hunting for a single mutation within a genome of three billion base pairs is expensive, time-consuming and prone to error, even with today’s most advanced technology.

Cellular power plants reveal the origin of blood cells

To bypass these hurdles, Ludwig focuses on natural mutations within the mitochondrial genome – a much smaller, more manageable DNA molecule found within cellular power plants known as mitochondria. By pairing this approach with sophisticated single-cell sequencing technologies, his team can analyze tens of thousands of blood and bone marrow cells simultaneously, effectively mapping the activity of blood-forming stem cells. This single-cell analysis of natural genetic variation does more than track lineage; it provides vital information on the health of individual cells. In a clinical setting, this could eventually help doctors to predict the success of stem cell transplants or fine-tune cell and gene therapies with unprecedented precision.

Beyond this work on hematopoietic stem cells, Ludwig is tackling the challenge of inherited mitochondrial mutations. These defects are among the most common genetic disorders and can trigger a wide range of metabolic diseases affecting multiple organ systems. Despite their prevalence, the molecular causes of these conditions remain poorly understood. By investigating how mitochondrial gene variants influence different cellular and metabolic phenotypes, Ludwig aims to lay the groundwork for new therapeutic approaches.

“The Heisenberg program supports outstanding scientists, so it was no surprise to us that Ludwig was selected for this honor,” says Prof. Christopher Baum, Chair of the BIH Board of Directors and Chief Translational Research Officer of Charité. “His exceptional work combines basic research and application-oriented studies. Ludwig and his team are thus strengthening the translational network that brings together the BIH, Charité, and the Max Delbrück Center for the benefit of patients.”