Dr. Ping Shen
Pitzer Laboratory of Osteoarthritis Research
Liaison working group with Charité - Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology
About Ping Shen
Education
2007-2014 PhD in Biology/Immunology | Humboldt University of Berlin, Germany. Prof. Simon Fillatreau
2003-2006 Master in Molecular Biology and Biochemistry | Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.
Current Position
Since 2024: Principal Investigator in the group of Prof. Max Löhning at Department of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin and German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ) Berlin, Germany.
Previous Positions
2021 – 2025: Principal Investigator for a collaborative project between German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ) and Stem Cell Research Center, Xinxiang Medical University, Xinxiang, China.
2016 – 2024: Postdoc at German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ).
2007 – 2015: PhD student and Postdoc at Immune Regulation, German Rheumatology Research Center (DRFZ), Berlin, Germany.
Outreach to general public
July. 2026: Leibniz-Magazin Medizin “Heilendes Menstruationsblut“ Editor: Lea Neubauer
March.2026: Fluter magazine “Bloody interesting: Die Immunologin Ping Shen fortscht daran, wie Periodenblut Krankheiten heilen könnte“ Editor: Paulina Albert & Luise Land
23.03.2025: Science documentary “ARTE 42 – Verschwenden wir Periodenblut?“
Production company: mobyDOK GmbH, Berlin; Producer: Alexander Lahl & Max Mönch
17.02.2024: ARTE Science ZDF documentary: The Power of the Cycle: New research, old taboos.
Production company: THURNFILM GmbH, Cologne, Germany; Producer: Heinke Schröder & Maja Meiners
Beyond the laboratory work, I engage with the public, discussing the potential of menstrual blood-derived stem cells and responding to widespread interest in this research. I have been deeply touched by the considerable public interest and by the many thoughtful messages from people eager to learn and contribute. I have also begun involving osteoarthritis patients as research partners. These exchanges strengthen my commitment to clear, responsible science communication with patients and the wider public.
Grants & Rewards
Oskar-Helene-Heim Research Project Funding; 2027-2029
Wolfgang Schulze Foundation Research Funding; 2026-2027
Charité-Karolinska Profile Partnership Fund; 2026-2027
Klaus Tschira Boost Fund; 2026-2028;
Deutsche RHEUMA-LIGA Ideas competition. 2025
Einstein Kickbox advanced scientists (EZ-2016-289); 2020-2021
Supervision of Graduate students and postdoctoral fellows
Since 2020: Supervision of four PhD-students (One completed in 2025, one completed in 2026, and the other two are ongoing); Supervision of three Master students (All completed).
2017-2019 as Postdoc: Supervision of one visiting postdoctoral researcher (One year) and several internship students.
Seminar Organization and Hosting
2021-2023: Organiser and host of the monthly “Bone–Joint–Myeloid Cell Club (Joint club)”.
Since 2024: I rebranded the “Joint club” as “Innate Immunity Club”. Each seminar features two speakers from Charité, the DRFZ, or invited institutions in Germany and abroad.
Reviewer activities
Nature Nanotechnology, Journal of Experimental Medicine (JEM), Frontiers in Immunology, RMD Open: Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Diseases, Cellular Immunology, Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Bioactive Materials, et.al.
Membership of scientific societies
2025 – present Alliance for Advanced Therapies in Orthopaedics (ATiO)
2023 – present German Association of University Professors and Lecturers (DHV)
2018 – present Osteoarthritis Research Society International (OARSI)
2017 – present German Stem Cell Network (GSCN)
Publikations
