The Founder

Prof. Dr Christine Lang is a scientist and entrepreneur. She studied biology in Bochum and Sussex (UK), obtained her PhD in the molecular genetics of fungi, and completed her habilitation in microbiology and molecular genetics. She worked in industrial research, founded several biotechnology companies to investigate the beneficial effects of lactic acid bacteria and yeasts, and also used to teach for many years as a professor of genetics at the Technical University (TU) of Berlin.

Christine Lang was Co-Chair of the German Government’s Bioeconomy Council and President of the Association for General and Applied Microbiology (VAAM). Today, she is, amongst other things, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Polymer Research, Deputy Chair of the Board of Trustees of the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, co-chair of the Industrial Bioeconomy Working Group at the industry association BIO Deutschland, and a member of numerous other advisory bodies and boards.

The beneficial effect of microorganisms

Under her leadership, teams at universities and colleges, research institutes and industrial companies have developed yeasts with specific biosynthetic capabilities (synthetic biology, metabolic engineering) and identified bacteria and other microorganisms with beneficial effects, including for medical skincare. In doing so, they have laid the foundations for the microbiotic skincare products commonly used today. Research has also been conducted into natural bacteria and their effects against Helicobacter pylori (product name ‘Pylopass’), against tooth decay, bacterial throat infections and against multi-resistant germs or pathogens (MRSA). Many of the products and active ingredients have undergone a rigorous patent process and are now commercially available.

Christine Lang collaborated with major brand-name companies and leading industrial firms. She worked on joint projects in research, product development and sales with companies including Bionorica, Evonik, BASF, Henkel and the Müller drugstore and retail chain, as well as the Swiss pharmaceutical and biotechnology group Lonza. As an entrepreneur and scientist, Prof. Christine Lang has received several awards. In spring 2026, her life’s work was honoured by the VAAM with the Hans Günter Schlegel Lecture.