About the DGfZ
The German Society for Cytometry
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zytometrie, DGfZ
Founded in 1989 in Heidelberg by pioneers of cytometry, the DGfZ began as a networking platform for researchers in flow and image cytometry. Today, it is a leading interdisciplinary society, with its members dedicated to advancing the study, communication, and innovation of cytometry across Germany.

The DGfZ community engages in exploration, analysis, and understanding of cells across scientific disciplines, uniting life sciences, engineering, (bio-)informatics, and more. Our members work on the cutting edge of immunology, oncology, pathology, microbiology, plant sciences, and ecology—areas where cellular analysis plays a critical role.
DGfZ members continue to drive forward technological progress by developing cutting-edge instruments, assays, and applications (LINK publication list). The society supports knowledge transfer through a solid foundation of core facility members, technicians, researchers, industry professionals, and an annual conference, which has become a cornerstone of the DGfZ community.


Poster Session

Product Slam

Poster award winners 2024

Industry exhibiton

Our DGfZ annual meeting embodies the society’s mission to foster scientific exchange and collaboration. It provides a friendly and stimulating environment, where graduate students, post-docs, established scientists, and core facility members alike engage in presentations, interdisciplinary dialogue and networking, with strong support also from industry partnerships. Known for its welcoming atmosphere, top-quality presentations and educational workshops, affordable registration, and legendary evening social event, the conference has become a highlight of the DGfZ calendar.
Board

Oliver Otto
President of the DGfZ
University Greifswald
Zelluläre Biophysik
The research group Cellular Biophysics at the University of Greifswald develops label-free cytometry methods based on the biophysical properties of cells and tissues.

Claudia Giesecke-Thiel
Vice President of the DGfZ
Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics
Berlin
Founding head of the Flow Cytometry Facility at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics, Berlin. Now returning to establish my own lab, focusing on imprints of human immune memory shaped by antigen nature and exposure topography. B cell enthusiast and co-innovator in Flow Cytometer Standardization and Pulse Shape Flow Cytometry.

Thomas Kroneis
Secretary of the DGfZ
Medical University of Graz
Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology
Slide-based Cytometry – Microchimerism, my field of research, is based on the analysis of rare cells (and their DNA, RNA, etc.), e.g. maternal cells in fetal tissues or fetal cells in the tissue of the mother. For detection, we use the toolbox of slide-based cytometry. Among others, we use fluorescence in situ hybridization, immunohistochemistry and other in situ techniques to identify and verify microchimeric cells as well as interpret their biology in a spatial context (Spatial Biology).

Christian von Rein
Tresurer of the DGfZ
Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf
I work at the institute in the ‘Service Group Cytometry’ as an operator for the flow cytometers and microscopes. This means that I am mainly responsible for the practical/technical part.
Advisory board
Dr. Jochen Behrends
Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center
Head Fluorescence Cytometry, Borstel
Prof. Dr. Dr. Bertram Bengsch
Universitatsklinik Freiburg
Lisa Budzinski
Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), Berlin, a Leibniz Institute
apl. Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Fritzsche
Leibniz-IPHT, Jena
Prof. Dr. Anja Hauser
Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ), Berlin, a Leibniz Institute & Universitätsmedizin Charité Berlin
Dr. Christin Koch
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research – UFZ,
Environmental Microbiology, Leipzig
Dr. Michael Kirschbaum
Microfluidic Cell Processing & Cell Analytics Unit
Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology,
Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses IZI-BB, Potsdam
Prof. Dr. Raluca Niesner
Deutsches Rheuma-Forschungszentrum (DRFZ) Berlin, a Leibniz Institute & FU Berlin
Prof. Dr. Frank A. Schildberg
Klinik und Poliklinik für Orthopädie und Unfallchirurgie der Uniklinik Bonn
Statutes
DGfZ 2024
The Society is an interdisciplinary scientific association with a particular interest in cytometry and its promotion. It pursues exclusively and directly non-profit (scientific) purposes. It organises conferences and other meetings for the purpose of exchanging experience and promoting developments in all areas of analytical and preparative cell research.
Past Meetings & our History
Frühere Treffen in der Durchflußzytometrie interessierter Wissenschaftler verschiedener Disziplinen hatten den Reiz, dass neue Verfahren vorgestellt, neue Ergebnisse mitgeteilt wurden. Die Organisation lokaler Gruppen in den USA, nationaler Gruppen in Europa zeigen, dass Bedarf für derartige Kommunikation besteht. Es wäre einen Versuch wert, auch im deutschsprachigen Raum Gruppen zusammenzuführen, die sich durch ihr Interesse an Durchflußzytometrie auszeichnen”
Klaus Goerttler, Heidelberger Zytometrie Symposium 1988, S. 17
“The Society of Cytometry (Gesellschaft fuer Zytometrie, GZ) was founded in 1989 in Heidelberg (Germany) by the Foundation Council represented by Cess Cornelisse, Georg Feichter, Wolfgang Goehde, Klaus Goerttler, Holger Hoehn, Andreas Radbruch, Peter Schwarzmann, and Günter Valet. An association was born dedicated to provide an interdisciplinary platform for interested scientists basically in the field of flow and image cytometry. Founding members were scientists whose personal scientific development was and is still closely interlinked with the development of cytometric technologies in Europe.
In 1994 the original name of the Society was changed into Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zytometrie (DGfZ, German Society of Cytometry). Since the foundation, annual meetings have been organized to provide a platform for interdisciplinary exchange in basic research, clinical and industrial developments.” (Text by Susann Müller and Elmar Endl)