DGIM and Its Congress
The DGIM was founded in 1882 in Wiesbaden and, with over 30,000 members, ranks among the largest medical-scientific societies in Europe. Its annual Congress is one of the most important specialty conferences in the German-speaking world. The 2026 edition was held under the theme ‘Paradigm Shift’ and attracted nearly 9,000 attendees.
Young Investigator Award
The YIA is open to early-career researchers under 35 years of age. The ten best submitted abstracts are selected for a dedicated competition session; a jury awards the three top contributions at the ceremonial congress opening in the historic Kurhaus Wiesbaden.
The Study: PDE5 Inhibitors in Primary Myelofibrosis
Primary Myelofibrosis (PMF) is a rare myeloproliferative neoplasm characterized by progressive bone marrow fibrosis, anemia, and splenomegaly. Current therapies – including JAK inhibitors – provide symptomatic relief but lack meaningful antifibrotic activity.
Under the supervision of Dr. Adam Benabid and Prof. Rebekka Schneider-Kramann, the Institute of Cell and Tumor Biology identified PDE5A as a significantly upregulated enzyme in ECM-producing Adipo-CAR stromal cells in PMF patients, with expression levels normalizing following allogeneic stem cell transplantation. Using scRNA-seq, MSC spheroid models, and a TPO-overexpression mouse model, the antifibrotic effects of sildenafil were comprehensively investigated.
Key Findings
- Sildenafil and PDE5A-siRNA significantly reduced COL1A1 and FAP expression in TGFβ-stimulated MSC spheroids.
- Bulk RNA-seq revealed broad normalization of collagen and ECM production.
- In the PMF mouse model: significantly reduced spleen weight, leukocyte counts, and fibrosis grades, alongside improved hemoglobin levels.
As sildenafil is already clinically approved, these findings carry significant translational potential – with a clinical study on the horizon. PDE5A may additionally serve as an early remission biomarker following stem cell transplantation.
