Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin

The Charité was founded in 1710 by King Frederick I of Prussia as a plague hospital outside the city gates of Berlin. Its name, meaning 'charity' in French, was adopted in 1727 when it began serving the poor. Over the centuries it became a leading medical institution, with figures like Rudolf Virchow and Robert Koch conducting pioneering research there.² In 1810 it became the teaching hospital of the newly established University of Berlin (now Humboldt University), and in 2003 it merged with the Benjamin Franklin Medical Center of the Free University, forming today's Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin.

Charité is a powerhouse of biomedical research, hosting numerous collaborative research centers funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) and the Max Planck Institute for Infection Biology. Its scientists have made landmark contributions, including the development of the first artificial heart valve in the 1950s and the isolation of the Ebola virus in 1976. The hospital also leads the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and participates in the Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), a translational research institute founded in 2013.

Charité offers comprehensive care across all medical specialties, with particular excellence in neurology, cardiology, oncology, and infectious diseases. Its emergency department is one of the busiest in Germany, and it operates specialized centers for rare diseases, organ transplantation, and trauma. The hospital's intensive care units are equipped with advanced technology, and it has a dedicated pediatric hospital, the Charité Children's Hospital. In 2020, Charité became a national reference center for treating COVID-19 patients, gaining international attention for its high survival rates.

Beyond its clinical and research fame, Charité has a rich cultural history. The Berlin Museum of Medical History, located on the Charité campus, displays anatomical specimens and traces the evolution of medicine, including the controversial history of Nazi-era medical experiments.³ The hospital also runs a unique 'Charité International Cooperation' program, training medical professionals from developing countries. Additionally, the Charité has a notable art collection, and its campus includes the historic 'Charitéplatz' with a statue of Rudolf Virchow. In 2017, the German television series 'Charité' dramatized the hospital's history, bringing its legacy to a wider audience.

University hospital

A hospital that is integrated with a medical school, providing patient care, teaching, and research.

Translational research

Research that aims to translate basic scientific findings into practical clinical applications.

DFG

German Research Foundation, the main public funding body for research in Germany.