The Translation Committee at ForTra gGmbH decides on the support of projects within the scope of the Translational Research funding line. This committee is staffed by up to six members, who are elected for a maximum three-year term of office by the Foundation Board at Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung upon proposal by executive management at ForTra. A re-election is permitted.

The Translation Committee currently consists of six members. Besides two representatives of the EKFS Foundation Board (Mr. Rudolf Herfurth and Mr. Rainer Baule) along with one representative of the Management Board at EKFS (Prof. Dr. med. Michael Madeja), the committee is augmented by three additional external members in capacities as representatives of medical science and as experts in technology transfer from the life sciences sector. At the present time, these three external members are Dr. Gabriele Dallmann (inter alia co-founder of Biopharma Excellence [biopharma consulting services]), Dr. Kathrin Körner (Global Head of Patents and Scientific Services, Managing Director Merck Patent GmbH), and Prof. Dr. med. Martin Westphal (former CMO Fresenius Kabi, currently Vice President, Head of Therapeutic Areas, Global Medical Affairs, CSL Behring).

History 

ForTra is a 100% subsidiary of EKFS and was converted to a non-profit status at the end of 2015. Within the scope of the Translational Research funding line it supports projects from the life sciences sector with the aspiration to bring promising medical developments to market readiness and to implementation at the clinic/hospital and/or on patients as quickly as possible.