How in2code Supports Scientific Communication at DZNE with TYPO3

The German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) is a leading research institution dedicated to understanding, preventing, and treating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS. Founded in 2009 as part of the Helmholtz Association, DZNE operates across ten locations in Germany and employs approximately 1,200 people. Its interdisciplinary research connects fundamental science, clinical studies, and healthcare to advance the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

With a broad audience of roughly 50,000 monthly visitors, spanning researchers, healthcare professionals, policymakers, the press, and the general public, DZNE needs a digital presence that makes complex scientific information accessible while supporting the organization’s extensive editorial and communication requirements. 

DZNE has relied on TYPO3 since 2010. In 2021, the organization partnered with in2code to modernize its existing CMS infrastructure and establish a long-term foundation for its evolving digital communication needs. Since then, the collaboration has combined continuous TYPO3 upgrades and maintenance with tailored development, editorial training, and custom solutions that help DZNE communicate its research effectively.

When DZNE approached in2code in 2021, its existing TYPO3 installation was running on version 9 and needed modernization. At the same time, the organization wanted to improve the visual identity and usability of its website, particularly its homepage, and give its internal editorial team more practical support.

Another priority was making media assets easier to access. The press and public needed a straightforward way to find suitable images and use them in their own communication.

These requirements were part of a broader challenge: maintaining a content-rich website that serves diverse audiences and accommodates contributions from editors across multiple departments. The platform needed to remain secure and maintainable while providing the flexibility to support DZNE’s changing research and communication needs.

DZNE selected in2code for its proven TYPO3 expertise, experience in extension development, references in the public sector and academic institutions, and focus on performance, quality, and editorial empowerment.

The goals were clear: modernize the technical foundation, improve access to media content, and strengthen editorial workflows through practical support and training.

Since 2021, in2code has supported DZNE across the technical and editorial aspects of its digital presence. The partnership follows an iterative approach, combining ongoing consulting and maintenance with targeted improvements as the organization’s requirements evolve. Regular consulting covers UX improvements, accessibility enhancements, and long-term CMS strategy. 

Continuous TYPO3 Upgrades and Maintenance

The collaboration began with an upgrade from TYPO3 v9 to v11, followed by a major upgrade to TYPO3 v13. Regular security patching, system monitoring, and codebase maintenance help keep the platform stable, secure, and maintainable over time.

Secure Editorial Workflows with Content Publisher

To support DZNE’s content approval requirements, in2code implemented its proprietary TYPO3 Content Publisher extension. The solution establishes a controlled publishing process from a staging environment to the live website, separating editorial drafts from publicly available content.

Easier Media Access Through Custom easydb Integration

One of the project’s key technical components is a bespoke TYPO3 extension connecting the website to the easydb media database through an API.

The integration allows DZNE’s press team and external users to find curated, royalty-free images through keyword-driven filtering. By making selected media assets directly accessible through the website, the solution simplifies the process of finding suitable imagery for scientific and public communication.

The custom extension was developed by in2code and funded as part of the DZNE project, representing a practical example of how tailored TYPO3 development can address specific institutional needs.

Newsletter Management with LUXletter

DZNE uses LUXletter, in2code’s TYPO3-native newsletter solution, to communicate research news and press releases to targeted audiences. The solution provides recipient targeting, analytics dashboards, and a dedicated backend interface, allowing editorial teams to manage email communications without relying on an external newsletter platform.

Improving the Website Experience

Working with DZNE’s communications team, in2code delivered a modern, fully responsive homepage redesign focused on visual storytelling, intuitive navigation, and improved accessibility.

The partnership also includes recurring, hands-on TYPO3 training tailored to the editorial team’s everyday needs, from routine content updates to more complex layout editing. In addition, interactive SVG graphics allow visitors to explore DZNE’s research areas and locations, making information about the organization’s research structure easier to navigate and understand.

Maintaining Communication During Disruptions

To help ensure access to essential information when the main CMS is unavailable, in2code implemented a standalone emergency website notfallwebsite.de which provides key contact details and event information during technical disruptions, helping DZNE maintain public communication when the primary website cannot be reached.

Through its ongoing partnership with in2code, DZNE now has a secure, up-to-date TYPO3 platform for scientific communication. Continuous upgrades keep the system maintainable, while Content Publisher gives a large, distributed editorial team a controlled path from draft to publication.

The easydb integration makes curated media easy to find for the press and the public, LUXletter brings targeted email communication into TYPO3, and the Emergency Website ensures essential information stays reachable during disruptions. Regular training and consulting mean the website evolves with DZNE rather than being treated as a one-off project.

The partnership is now growing beyond the main website. in2code redesigned the DZNE Foundation’s website and built a custom web app for centralized, GDPR-compliant address management.