INFRAFRONTIER Mourns the Passing of Scientific Managing Director Prof. Dr. Johannes Beckers
It is with profound sadness that INFRAFRONTIER announces the unexpected passing of our Scientific Managing Director, Prof. Dr. Johannes Beckers, Executive MBA.
Johannes joined INFRAFRONTIER in June 2025, following his introduction to the community as designated Scientific Managing Director during the INFRAFRONTIER Conference on Rare Diseases on 28–29 April 2025. From the outset, he brought remarkable energy, strategic vision, and unwavering commitment to advancing INFRAFRONTIER’s mission. His leadership and strategic contributions have left a meaningful legacy that will continue to guide the organisation in the years ahead.
During his time with INFRAFRONTIER, Johannes played a pivotal role in shaping the organisation’s future. His contributions to the development of the INFRAFRONTIER Strategic Roadmap 2026–2031 reflected his deep understanding of biomedical research infrastructure and his ambition to strengthen INFRAFRONTIER’s impact in supporting research into human disease.
Many members of the INFRAFRONTIER community met Johannes during this year’s conference, Towards in silico modelling of health and disease, held in Rome on 23–24 June 2025. His enthusiasm for scientific collaboration, thoughtful leadership, and commitment to innovation were immediately evident to colleagues and partners alike.
Johannes’ scientific career was characterised by intellectual curiosity, scientific excellence, and a strong commitment to responsible biomedical research. As head of the Gene Regulation and Epigenetics research group at the Institute of Experimental Genetics (IEG), Helmholtz Munich, he made important contributions to the field of epigenetics, advancing our understanding of gene regulation and its role in health and disease.
He was also a passionate advocate for transparent and open communication about animal research. Convinced that dialogue with society is essential for scientific progress, Johannes co-hosted the German podcast Fabeln, Fell und Fakten together with Roman Stilling from Tierversuche verstehen, helping to explain the role of animal research in biomedical discovery and address common misconceptions. Most recently, he featured INFRAFRONTIER’s activities in a special episode recorded during the INFRAFRONTIER Conference in Rome.
Johannes also firmly believed that animal research and New Approach Methodologies (NAMs) are complementary rather than competing approaches. He consistently promoted the view that both are indispensable components of modern biomedical research. By combining advanced model systems with innovative non-animal methods, researchers can generate robust scientific evidence needed to better understand disease and develop new therapies that improve human health. This balanced perspective was one of the principles he championed throughout his scientific career and leadership at INFRAFRONTIER.
“I had the privilege of working very closely with Johannes and experienced first-hand how much he valued his role at INFRAFRONTIER and how deeply he cared about advancing the modelling of human disease. His vision, dedication, and collegial spirit made a lasting impact on our organisation. We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss,” reflects, Administrative Managing Director at Dr.Michael Raess.
The entire INFRAFRONTIER ERIC team extends its heartfelt condolences to Johannes’ family, friends, colleagues, and everyone who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him. Our thoughts are with them during this difficult time.