Three questions for molecular biologist Katja Großmann

What’s the most exciting thing about your job?

The most exciting thing for me is that my work really allows me to set things in motion – people, topics, and trends. As the research field representative for Helmholtz Health, I am directly connected to our Research Centers and their scientists. I can see good ideas as they arise and help to connect the relevant people with each other. I find it particularly fulfilling when collaborations grow, and when we match the pulse of our time with topics such as targeted prevention, digital health, AI, and biomedical engineering – and at the same time contribute to implementing Germany’s high-tech agenda.

If money and time were no object, what would your next project be?

I would significantly expand international cooperation in health research. Especially in times when many countries are once again focusing more on themselves, it is important to maintain the bridges between them and build new ones. Health is a global challenge – and many regions, especially in the Global South, need greater access to research and innovation. I see great potential in partnerships, for example with the Gates Foundation, to make a difference together, learn from each other, and strengthen capacities worldwide – not only through money, but also dedication, timing, and applying the right minds.

If you could choose anyone, who would you like to have dinner with and what would you talk about?

I would dine with my own scientific community – with my colleagues, researchers, and partners from the Helmholtz Health Centers, but also with international experts. These conversations are part of my everyday life anyway, and I value them greatly. Over dinner, you simply have more time to delve deeper: into research ideas, global challenges, and new ways of rethinking health. Such conversations give me energy – and are often the beginning of something new.