“In cancer research, we have achieved crucial advances in recent years," says Professor Dr. Otmar D. Wiestler, DKFZ’s Scientific Director. “Now it is time to translate these findings from the laboratory into clinical practice. The German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research offers ideal conditions for us to do so." The partnership of the German Cancer Research Center with seven university sites evolved from a joint initiative by the German Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe) and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The consortium will help to translate current research results even more swiftly into clinical practice. At each of the partnering sites, a translational center will be established, which will be a joint project of DKFZ and the respective university. “The collaboration of the eight partners and the contribution of clinical expertise will also lend international visibility to Germany," says Professor Dr. Hubert Serve, Medical Director of the Department of Medicine II – Hematology, Oncology, Rheumatology, Infectiology of Johann-Wolfgang Goethe University Hospitals, and coordinator of the Frankfurt/Mainz partnering site.
The general medical concept of the partners in the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research provides for seven translational research programs in the areas of Signaling Pathways of Carcinogenesis, Molecular Diagnosis of Cancer, Tumor Immunology, Stem Cells and Cancer, Imaging and Radiation Therapy, Therapy Resistance, and Cancer Prevention and Early Detection.
In addition, there will be five research platforms which will be available for all partnering sites. A Clinical Communication platform will ensure uniform diagnosis standards for all patients so that they may then receive the best possible treatment in large clinical trials. Various Service units will be available to outsource routine laboratory work, which will be conducted according to uniform standards. Preclinical Models will facilitate common access to animals that develop specific cancers due to a genetic modification. Substance Development will focus on selected areas and on collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry. Finally, the School of Oncology will provide education and training for natural scientists and medical researchers in the area of translational cancer research at the highest level.
In November last year, an internationally staffed expert committee selected the partnering sites for the consortium. DKFZ will have the function of a core center and will contribute, jointly with Heidelberg University Hospitals, the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg to the consortium. The selected partnering sites are:
- Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center, Berlin University Medicine
- University Cancer Center, University Hospitals Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden Technical University
- West German Cancer Center, Essen University Hospitals
- University Center for Tumor Diseases, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Hospitals, Frankfurt
- Ludwig Heilmeyer Tumor Center – Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg, Freiburg University Hospitals
- Munich University Hospitals, Munich Technical University Hospitals
- Southwest German Tumor Center – Comprehensive Cancer Center, Tuebingen University Hospitals