Benjamin Winkeljann

Dr. Benjamin Winkeljann serves as a Group Leader at the Department for Pharmacy, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, and as a Principal Investigator at the Comprehensive Pneumology Center Munich (CPC-M), Helmholtz Munich. He simultaneously holds the position of Co-Founder & CEO at RNhale GmbH since 2023. His academic trajectory includes completing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering at the Technical University of Munich, followed by postdoctoral positions at both LMU Munich and TUM's Department of Mechanical Engineering and Munich School of Bioengineering.

Dr. Winkeljann's research centers on nanomedicine and advanced drug delivery systems, with specialized expertise in RNA therapeutics and pulmonary delivery platforms. His work uniquely bridges engineering principles with pharmaceutical applications, developing novel delivery systems for siRNA and other nucleic acids. He employs integrated experimental and computational methodologies to optimize drug carrier systems, with particular focus on endosomal escape mechanisms that determine therapeutic efficacy. His engineering background provides a distinctive perspective on pharmaceutical challenges that traditionally fall within pure pharmacy disciplines.

His publication record reveals a clear progression from fundamental studies on polymer-RNA interactions toward increasingly applied research on pulmonary delivery systems. Recent work demonstrates integration of machine learning with traditional drug delivery approaches, reflecting his engineering background. The articles collectively address the critical bottleneck of efficient intracellular delivery in nucleic acid therapeutics, with growing emphasis on translational applications. His research shows strong interdisciplinary character, combining mechanical engineering, computational modeling, and pharmaceutical sciences.

As a Group Leader completing his Habilitation, Dr. Winkeljann likely supervises PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, though specific advisees aren't listed in available materials. His position at the intersection of academia (LMU), research centers (CPC-M), and industry (RNhale GmbH) demonstrates a strategic approach to translational research, aiming to accelerate the path from discovery to clinical application. He operates within Prof. Olivia Merkel's research ecosystem at LMU, contributing engineering expertise to the lab's focus on "novel non-viral and targeted nanosized RNA delivery systems" for applications in cancer immunology, inflammatory diseases, and respiratory viruses.