Major Research Fields
Our interdisciplinary research is based on observational epidemiological studies, randomized clinical trials with cancer patients as well as large-scale surveys.
Strength training
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Our research focus lies on:
- Clinical studies to investigate the effects of exercise interventions in cancer patients
- Patterns, pathophysiology, and treatment of selected burdensome quality of life-related outcomes
- Methodological research on exposure and outcome assessment and validation methods
- Epidemiologic research on physical activity and exercise in primary and tertiary prevention for various cancer sites, also as part of the German National Cohort study (GNC)
- Dissemination and promotion of PA and, for cancer patients, other effective supportive therapies towards standard care
An overview of the studies and their classification into our research areas are shown in the following figure.
Further details on the studies are provided after the figure.
Ongoing (recruiting) studies/projects
- PREFERABLE II-Projekt: Live-remote exercise program for cancer survivors
- CLARO-Study - An observational and interventional study on Cancer literacy as an essential factor for lifestyle behavior changes
- German National Cohort (recruiting) - Cohort study to investigate the causes underlying major chronic diseases and their pre-clinical stages or functional health impairments in 200,000 participants
- Patient-reported Outcome Research (Qol, fatigue, sleep, cognition, anxiety, depression)
Studies with completed recruitment and ongoing research
- LIFT project - Longitudinal Investigation of cancer-related Fatigue and its Treatment
- MERLIN Study - Longitudinal observational study to providing a patient-oriented and effective program for early detection of fatigue
- PERSPECTIVE - Study - Cross-sectional PERSPECTIVEs of patients on exercise interventions after the diagnosis of metastasized breast cancer
- EFFECT - Study - Randomized controlled trial on effects of exercise in patients with metastatic breast cancer on fatigue and quality of life
- CogniFiT - Study - Comparative longitudinal study on Cognitive Function in patients with gynecological Tumors
- BENEFIT-Study - Randomized controlled clinical trial on exercise for breast cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy
- INTACT - Study - INvestigating and Optimizing the Treatment Against Cancer-related FaTigue
- CarpeDiem - Study - Evaluation of a program to foster patient competence with fatigue
- „leicht bewegt“ im DKFZ – Prä-Post-Interventionsstudie zur Reduzierung von Sitzzeiten
- FIX-Study - Observational study on fatigue in Germany - Examination of prevalence, severity, and state of screening and treatment
- MOMENTUM Project Heidelberg - Several large-scale surveys and prospective investigations on social cognitions and norms towards physical exercise among cancer patients and health care professionals
- POSITIVE-Study (PART III) (recruitment closed) - Randomized controlled clinical trial on physical exercise program in lung cancer patients with non-operable disease undergoing curative and palliative treatment
- SUPPORT-Study (recruitment closed) - Randomized controlled clinical trial on the effects of supervised progressive resistance training for pancreatic cancer patients
- BEST-Study (recruitment closed) - Randomized controlled clinical trial on progressive resistance training and progressive muscle relaxation during radiotherapy as adjuvant treatment against cancer-related fatigue
- BEATE-Study (recruitment closed) - Randomized controlled clinical trial on physical activity and progressive muscle relaxation as adjuvant treatment against cancer-related fatigue
- MARIE- and MARIEplus Studies (recruitment closed, follow-up for cohort continues) - Observational studies (case-control study with continuation as a patient-cohort study) on identifying potential risk factors for the development of breast cancer after menopause as well as on several outcome variables (quality of life, cancer progression, and survival) after diagnosis
- Epidemiological Program - Physical activity and cancer
Further studies with completed recruitment and ongoing research
PIC-Study - Randomized controlled clinical trial on preventing chemotherapy-related polyneuropathy via sensorimotor exercise training-study