The Society

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 of Oliver Otto focuses on understanding of how mechanical properties of cells and tissue impact on biological function. Specifically, he is interested in the development of label-free flow cytometry methods to study the rheology of single cells and multicellular systems at high spatiotemporal resolution.
Oliver received his PhD in Physics from the University of Cambridge (UK), where he investigated single molecule dynamics. In 2012, he joined the Technical University of Dresden (Germany) as a postdoctoral researcher and in 2016 he moved to the University of Greifswald (Germany) as an independent group leader. In both assignments he worked on the translation of high-throughput screenings into the field of cell mechanics. Since 2021, Oliver Otto is a Professor for Cellular Biophysics at the Physics Institute of the University of Greifswald (Germany).
Oliver Otto is also co-founder of the start-up company Zellmechanik Dresden, which commercializes real-time deformability cytometry, a technology for high-throughput characterization of cell mechanical properties.

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

Thomas Kroneis received his doctorate in Medical Sciences at Medical University of Graz (PhD equivalent; distinction) in 2009 working on rare cell analysis in the context of non-invasive prenatal diagnostics based on fetal cells circulating in the peripheral blood of pregnant women. In 2014, he was awarded a 3-year Marie Curie Fellowship allowing him to join the lab of Prof. Stahlberg in Gothenburg, Sweden, where he expanded his knowledge on single-cell RNA analyses. Back in Austria, he habilitated in Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology (venia docendi) in 2018, and was appointed 2nd deputy chair of the Division of Cell Biology, Histology and Embryology. In 2021, he started a research group and became the leading principal investigator of an international consortium running a 5.3 M USD project on microchimerism. Since 2022 Dr. Kroneis is assigned faculty member of the PhD Program Molecular Medicine at Medical University of Graz.
E-mail: thomas.kroneis@medunigraz.at
Team website: https://www.medunigraz.at/team-thomas-kroneis
Microchimerism website: https://microchimerism.info/

Christian von Rein

Tresurer of the DGfZ
Research Institute for Farm Animal Biology (FBN), Dummerstorf

Advisory board


Dr. Jochen Behrends
Research Center Borstel, Leibniz Lung Center
Head Fluorescence Cytometry, Borstel

After studying Biololgy in Oldenburg (diploma thesis in Jena), I got thrilled by translational aspects: therefore I started a PhD in Lübeck (Reproductive Immunology: tolarance mechanisms). Within this project I had the chance to work at the VA hospital in Palo Alto (Stanford University) in the Butcher Lab. That was a great experience working/studying among high-end experts and to get insights into core facilities. Back in Germany I started my Postdoc at the Research Center Borstel (Infection Immunolgy) working at the mouse TB-model. After 5 years working a lot with flow cytometric instruments (also repairing these and doing training for other users), together with a colleague I established the Core Facility Fluorescence Cytometry in 2013. Since this time our facility is still growing and up to know we do have up to 17 instruments taking care of (microscopes, flow cytometers, sorters): also BSL2 experiments and working within the BSL3 area with a sorter and analyzer. We are providing up-to-date equipment in the field of microscopy and flow cytometry for both Priority Research Areas of the center. In addition to care and maintenance of the equipment, the practical and theoretical training of employees is a main focus. Other services include counseling and assistance in experimental design and analysis. For complex methodical approaches cooperations with the respective research groups are carried out.


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

Wolfgang Fritzsche’s work is focused on the utilization of plasmonic effects for bioanalytical applications. Based on a long experience in the development of nanoparticle-based approaches for molecular detection with special focus on DNA, methods are developed that allow for a sensitive, label-free and multiplexed detection. This work is complemented with interest into novel effects in the interaction of molecular components with plasmonic nanostructures, and their use for biosensing. After a PhD at the MPI for Biophysical Chemistry in Göttingen and a PostDoc at Iowa State University, he is since 1996 at the Leibniz Institute of photonic Technology, where he took over the Department Nanobiophotonics in 2001.


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. Christin Koch is Director IP strategy at Symrise, a global supplier of fragrances, flavorings, cosmetic base materials and substances as well as functional ingredients. Until 2022 she has been the Head of the Microbiology Research group in the division Global Innovation Cosmetic Ingredients. She received her PhD in 2013 from the University of Leipzig (Germany) on the characterization of natural microbiome dynamics based on single-cell technologies. Until 2017 she has been working at the Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research focusing on environmental microbiology and bioelectrochemistry. At Symrise, she transferred her knowledge to the human microbiome, exploring the different ecological niches of the human body with the aim of respective product developments. She is the scientific lead of the SymProBiome™ microbiome platform. In the last years, she has published over 30 peer-reviewed articles in the field of microbiome research.


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

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)

Timeline of Annual Conferences

1988 – 2004 Heidelberg

When it all began

The early Heidelberg years from 1988 – 2004 are summarised here.

2005-2006 Leipzig

Attila Ternok

Abstract Booklet 2005 and 2006

2007-2008 Regensburg/Bremen

Gero Brockhoff

Abstract Booklet 2007 and 2008

2009 – 2010 Leipzig

Susann Müller

Abstract Booklet 2009 and 2010

2011 – 2012 Bonn

Elmar Endl

Abstract Booklet 2011 and 2012

2013-2014 Dresden

Leonie Kunz-Schughart

Abstract Booklet 2013 and 2014

2015 – 2016 Berlin

Hyun-Dong Chang

Abstract Booklet 2015 and 2016

2017-2018 Jena

Wolfgang Fritzsche

Abstract Booklet 2017 and 2018

2019 – 2020 Berlin

Anja Hauser

Abstract Booklet 2019 and 2020

2021 – 2022 Berlin

Raluca Niesner

Abstract Booklet 2021 and 2022

2023 – 2024 Berlin

Henrik Mei

Abstract Booklet 2023 and 2024

2025 Dresden

Oliver Otto