NCRC - About us

Translating findings from basic research into clinical application

The NCRC – Neuroscience Clinical Research Center was established in July 2008 as NeuroCure’s clinical research center within the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin (initially named NeuroCure Clinical Research Center). Its goal was to create the structural foundation for conducting clinical trials efficiently.
New findings from basic neuroscientific research - for example on stroke, multiple sclerosis, dementia, epilepsy or psychiatric diseases - can be investigated in clinical studies and subsequently implemented in diagnostics and therapy. By participating in a study, patients have direct access to the new diagnosis and therapy methods. The NCRC was certified from July 2014 - July 2025 as a Clinical Research Center including Site Management Organisation and biomarker sample management for the development, conduct and administration of neurological and psychiatric studies according to DIN ISO 9001.

In 2019, it was expanded with the NCRC-Brain4Lab module.
So far, research in the NCRC has mainly focused on the stable and chronic phases of neurological and psychiatric disorders. But to truly understand the mechanisms of these diseases, and to be able to develop effective therapies, it is also important to work with patients in the hyperacute and unstable phases of such disorders. This would mean having access to preclinical and emergency departments as well as to research programs in neurointensive care and the operating room.

The NCRC Brain4Lab begins at this crucial point, providing the means towards research in each of these areas and connecting researchers with state-of-the-art infrastructure, such as:

  • intraoperative imaging (hybrid operating rooms)
  • a data warehouse for neurointensive monitoring
  • an interdisciplinary emergency unit with on-site magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography imaging (CT) of the brain
  • a neuropathological tissue bank
  • stereotactic deep brain stimulation (DBS)
  • and in vivo electrophysiological recordings

Currently, a dedicated NCRC team is being established within the Charité’s Clinical Trial Office (CTO). This team will long-term handle neuroscience and psychiatry studies in monitoring, REDCap data management, and regulatory affairs.
You can reach them at projects-cto@charite.de