The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and the Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC) are receiving joint funding as a Center of Excellence in Oncology for the first time. German Cancer Aid is providing 4.8 million euros over four years for the new consortium.

Researchers from Heidelberg University’s Faculty of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have uncovered key mechanisms underlying the proliferation of the malaria parasite Plasmodium. The molecular processes that govern the formation of infectious daughter parasites and new nuclei are essential for parasite survival and may therefore represent targets for future antimalarial therapies.

EMUNO Therapeutics: the innate immune system as a new approach to cancer treatment - 29/07/2026

Activation of macrophages: a key factor in the fight against colorectal cancer

The mobilisation of the body’s own immune system through immune checkpoint inhibitors has revolutionised cancer therapy. However, the majority of solid tumours are able to evade immune surveillance. These so-called 'cold' tumours contain too few immune cells to respond effectively to current immunotherapies. This is where the Freiburg-based biotech start-up EMUNO Therapeutics GmbH comes in.

On July 24, 2026, the Medical Center – University of Freiburg, the University of Freiburg, and the medical technology company Siemens Healthineers opened their joint Technology Innovation Lab, for short. In the lab at the Department of Radiation Oncology, experts in medicine, medical physics, radiation biology, and data science are working together with engineers to develop and test new technologies for radiation therapy to treat cancer.

Why do cancers develop differently in different people—even when they are exposed to the same risk factors? An international research group, including the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), has now demonstrated in mice that an organism’s genetic makeup significantly influences the course of cancer development.

It has long been suspected that endothelial cells play a key role in determining how the body’s immune system responds to tumors. Researchers at the DKFZ and the Medical Faculty Mannheim of Heidelberg University have now identified, in mouse studies, a specialized population of blood vessel lining endothelial cells that enable an effective immune defense against cancer metastases in the liver.

Researchers at the NCT Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have, for the first time, systematically determined how specific mutations promote acute myeloid leukemias. The results show why IDH1- and IDH2-mutated leukemias develop differently despite similar molecular mechanisms—and open up new approaches for diagnostics and targeted therapies.

Being overweight and obesity may contribute to significantly more cancer cases than previously thought. This is the conclusion reached by researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Their analysis shows that when more accurate measures of body fat and methodological biases are considered, more than 10 percent of all cancer cases can be attributed to increased body weight - nearly twice as many as previous estimates suggested.

CRISPR base editing for tailored tumour treatment - 16/07/2026

Targeted genetic manipulation of signal transduction pathways in CAR T cells enhances anti-tumour potency

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has emerged as a highly promising treatment modality but has so far been used almost exclusively for advanced haematologic malignancies. Researchers at the iFIT cluster of excellence in Tübingen have now used CRISPR base-editing technology to introduce precise point mutations into key signalling pathways of CAR T cells, significantly enhancing their long-term persistence and anti-tumour potency.

The Friends of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) support the DKFZ and aim to help strengthen its position in the international arena. With the DKFZ Innovation Award, presented at this year’s annual reception, the association honors Helmut Salih, a researcher whose innovative work bridges the gap between immunological research and patient care.

In people with severely compromised immune systems, the JC polyomavirus can trigger a currently untreatable, usually fatal brain disease. Now, an international research team looking at the viral capsid has identified binding sites for neutralizing antibodies; these sites could be used to halt infection with JC polyomaviruses.

Prime Vector Technologies GmbH (PVT), a clinical-stage biotechnology company focusing on the development of viral vector-based vaccines, today announced that it has entered into an agreement with Boehringer Ingelheim for the assignment of certain patents and the exclusive licensing of its Orf virus (ORFV) platform for the development of next-generation cancer vaccines.

Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the HI-STEM* Stem Cell Institute, and the Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) have developed “HemaGuide,” an AI assistant that supports physicians in making difficult treatment decisions. In extensive testing, the system has shown a high degree of agreement with the recommendations of experienced experts and could significantly improve access to specialized and personalized cancer care.

A novel vaccination strategy against certain malignant brain tumors could fundamentally improve treatment for patients. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center, Mannheim University Medical Center, Heidelberg University Hospital, and numerous partner institutions* have published encouraging long-term results from a clinical trial involving a vaccine that activates the immune system against a common genetic mutation in these tumors.

Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have identified a previously unknown key mechanism by which cancer cells suppress the immune system and thus evade the effects of immunotherapies. At the same time, the new study in mouse models and human tumor samples points to a promising way to prevent resistance to immunotherapy.

Primary CNS lymphomas in immunocompromised patients are among the rarest and at the same time most aggressive cancers – yet evidence-based recommendations for their diagnosis and treatment have been lacking. An international research team led by the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University and the German Cancer Research Center has now identified characteristic imaging features of these tumors and developed a prognostic model.

The European Union is funding the PALACROS project with nearly €10 million under its “Horizon Europe” research programme. Researchers from Heidelberg University Hospital and Heidelberg University are helping shape the European PALACROS consortium, developing new standards for the treatment of locally advanced pancreatic cancer.

Through its “Proof of Concept” (PoC) grants, the European Research Council (ERC) supports scientists in further developing the economic potential of their research findings. In 2026, two scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) were once again selected to receive this prestigious funding: Moritz Mall and Chong Sun.

FlareOn Biotech - fluorescence-guided tumour margin detection - 01/07/2026

A sensor designed to visualise residual tumour tissue during surgery

In order to safely remove tumours in the head and neck region, surgeons must be able to reliably distinguish diseased tissue from healthy tissue. FlareOn Biotech, a start-up based in Frickenhausen, has developed a biochemical sensor capable of visualising tumour cells in tissue samples directly in the operating theatre within just ten minutes. The company is now seeking partners to help bring its diagnostic platform to market.

A team led by researchers from the German Cancer Research Center and the HI-STEM* Stem Cell Institute has discovered a new approach to treating advanced colorectal cancer. The study identifies a key marker of particularly aggressive and treatment-resistant colorectal cancer cells. At the same time, the researchers demonstrate using models that already approved drugs targeting this marker can specifically attack the metastasis-initiating cells.

Cancer researcher Dr Alexandra Niedermayer from the Ulm Children’s and Adolescents’ Clinic has been awarded the Franziska Kolb Prize, worth 8,000 euros, by the Ulm University Foundation. The 32-year-old researches aggressive forms of blood cancer and, using modern techniques, has identified an effective, personalised treatment approach.

For his research on the development of rare malignant tumors in the hereditary DICER1 tumor predisposition syndrome, Dr. Felix Kommoss has been awarded the Rudolf Virchow Prize of the German Society of Pathology. Dr. Kommoss conducts research at the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University and serves as Senior Physician and Head of Gynecologic Pathology at the Institute of Pathology, Heidelberg University Hospital.

On Thursday, 25 June 2026, several Freiburg cancer researchers were honoured at the presentation of the CRIION Joachim Frank Prize 2026. Among them was Prof. Dr Robert Zeiser, who received the Prize for Biomedical Research. Prof. Dr Jürgen Finke, PD Dr Florian Scherer and PD Dr Elisabeth Schorb of the University Medical Center Freiburg, together with Prof. Dr Gerald Illerhaus of Stuttgart Hospital, were awarded the Prize for Clinical Medicine.

On Thursday, 25 June 2026, several Freiburg cancer researchers were honoured at the presentation of the CRIION Joachim Frank Prize 2026. Among them was Prof. Dr Robert Zeiser, who received the Prize for Biomedical Research. Prof. Dr Jürgen Finke, PD Dr Florian Scherer and PD Dr Elisabeth Schorb of the University Medical Center Freiburg, together with Prof. Dr Gerald Illerhaus of Stuttgart Hospital, were awarded the Prize for Clinical Medicine.

Four doctoral candidates from Heidelberg University have the opportunity to exchange ideas with outstanding scientists. They are set to take part in the 75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting, which is being held in Lindau from 28 June to 3 July 2026. Jana Braunger, Tim Schubert, Laura Rueda Gensini and Nathan Trausch are among around 600 young researchers who have been selected for their outstanding academic achievements.

The European Research Council (ERC) supports visionary projects in basic research through its “Advanced Grants.” This year, the Council awarded a grant to cancer researcher and physician Dieter Saur from the DKTK Munich* site, and Aurelio Teleman, a metabolism expert at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ).

VERAXA Biotech AG, an emerging leader in designing novel cancer therapies, today announced that its previously announced business combination (“Business Combination”) with Voyager Acquisition Corp. (NASDAQ: VACH, “Voyager”), a special purpose acquisition company sponsored by Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., Voyager Acquisition Sponsor Holdco LLC, and Odeon Capital Group LLC, was closed successfully (the “Closing”)

Experts in Heidelberg have developed an AI system that can classify brain tumors with unprecedented accuracy using standard microscopic tissue sections. Using digitized standard stains, the system identifies more than 100 molecular subtypes of central nervous system tumors, delivers results within minutes, and could accelerate the diagnosis of brain tumors worldwide.

In response to stress or damage, cells undergo senescence and stop dividing. However, if senescent cells accumulate in tissues over the long term, chronic inflammation occurs and the risk of cancer increases. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now discovered a previously unknown mechanism by which senescent cells protect themselves from oxidative stress and a specific form of cell death known as ferroptosis.

In rare cases, cancer treatments can cause serious long-term effects. These include so-called secondary leukemias. This form of blood cancer can develop when chemotherapy or radiotherapy damages the genetic material of healthy cells. A research team led by a scientist from Ulm has now discovered a molecular protective mechanism against such genomic damage: a peptide.

The German Research Foundation (DFG) funds continuation of Research Training Group (RTG) 2727 “Checkpoints of Innate Immunity in Cancer and Tissue Damage”, with around €5,8 million.

Which cellular processes ensure that immune responses are controlled precisely? A new study by the Institute of Cell Biology and Immunology Thurgau (BITG) and the University of Konstanz decodes a decisive signalling pathway.

How do antimetabolite cancer drugs damage the genetic material of malignantly transformed cells and thereby destroy them? How might these drugs be used more precisely, particularly in the treatment of pediatric tumors? A new research group led by Dr. Christopher Carnie, a scientist at the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University, will address these questions.

Joint press release of the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University and the German Center for Infection Research: With the FDA approval of Hepcludex (bulevirtide), a therapy for chronic hepatitis D developed at the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University, Heidelberg University Hospital, and the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) has now reached the world’s most important pharmaceutical market.

Different types of bone marrow stem cells give rise to blood and immune cells. A team led by Simon Haas now reports in ​“Nature Cell Biology” how that diversity develops. The findings could help improve stem cell therapies, including treatments for blood cancers.

Cancer prevention with a single jab - 20/05/2026

Therapeutic vaccine against HPV-induced tumours

Persistent infections with human papillomaviruses (HPV) are the primary cause of cervical cancer. Researchers from Heidelberg have developed a promising therapeutic vaccine consisting of immunogenic virus peptides linked to silica nanoparticles, which is currently being investigated in preclinical studies. The vaccine activates specific cytotoxic T cells and is usable regardless of HLA type.

The Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) 1550 “Molecular Circuits of Heart Disease” at Heidelberg University is entering its second funding period. The German Research Foundation (DFG) has approved approximately EUR 17.4 million in funding for the next four years. The spokesperson is Johannes Backs, Professor of Experimental Cardiology at the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine.

The Medical Center – University of Freiburg has been certified for the first time as a “Center of Excellence” by the European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (ENETS). The professional association recognizes specialized centers that treat rare tumor diseases in accordance with established quality standards. Neuroendocrine tumors are rare cancers that can arise from hormone-producing cells.

NVision announced a $55 million Series B led by Abbott and unveiled PIQC, a new quantum computing platform built on its molecular quantum technology.

Whether people try to quit smoking depends heavily on public health policies in their respective countries – whether they are successful, however, depends primarily on their personal environment and behavior. This was the finding of researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in an international study.

The ability of cancer cells to change their identity makes tumors such as glioblastoma particularly aggressive and resistant to treatment. Moritz Mall, of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the Hector Institute for Translational Brain Research (HITBR), is investigating how this plasticity can be specifically restricted. His approach focuses on genetic “guardians” that suppress alternative cell programs.

Scientists from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the HI-STEM* Stem Cell Institute have deciphered a key mechanism that contributes to treatment failure in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). They show that there are not just one, but four different subtypes of leukemia stem cells. This diversity could explain why one of the most important AML drugs does not work sufficiently in some patients or loses its effectiveness over time.

MRI analysis of fat and muscle distribution in more than 66,000 people provides a more accurate assessment of health risks / Poor muscle quality poses an additional risk / Study provides reference values based on age, sex, and height

As the sun rises higher in the sky this spring, UV exposure increases. This should be addressed with proper sun protection. New data shows that people who work outdoors frequently are at a significantly higher risk of developing melanoma on their faces. At the same time, many affected individuals lack awareness of the risks and fail to use systematic sun protection.

This year’s Health Congress at Furtwangen University (HFU) focused on the timely topic of personalised healthcare. With the theme “Health for EVERYONE! – Successful Strategies Through personalised Healthcare,” HFU hosted the event for the 15th time in collaboration with the Black Forest-Baar Health Network, the Furtwangen University Support Association PRO HFU e.V., and the City of Furtwangen.

Her ground-breaking research studies on the regulation of gene activity have earned Dr Angelika Feldmann the Hella Bühler Prize for 2026, which is endowed with 100,000 euros.

The University of Freiburg works closely with partners from various sectors including academia, business, politics and public administration through the Innovation Alliance Foundation Freiburg. The resolution that has been adopted reinforces the shared goal of establishing Freiburg as an attractive innovation hub with international appeal.

Brain metastases are among the most serious complications of breast cancer. Researchers at Heidelberg University, DKFZ, and UKHD have concluded an investigation of the immune cells in the brain tissue surrounding these breast cancer brain metastases. Their findings: spatial distribution patterns of immune cells are associated with prolonged patient survival. These findings could help to guide use of immunotherapies for breast cancer patients.

Not only actual chronological age, but also individual aging at the molecular level is a key factor in the development of cancer. This was discovered by scientists at the DKFZ and the Saarland Cancer Registry. If the so-called “epigenetic clocks” indicate accelerated biological aging, the likelihood of a cancer diagnosis increases. This finding could help identify at-risk groups and make early detection screenings more targeted

Chronic infections cause long-term changes in key immune cells. T helper cells suppress their immune function to ensure their survival. New targets for vaccines and cancer immunotherapies.

Desmoplastic small- and round-cell tumor is rare, aggressive, and difficult to treat. Researchers at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have comprehensively analyzed 30 tumors and identified potential personalized treatment options for nearly all patients. In some patients, new targeted approaches were able to halt the disease for a surprisingly long time.

Photoimmunotherapy - 09/04/2026

Switching off tumours with light: how photons can be used to target prostate cancer

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men in Germany. Relapses and the harsh side effects of traditional treatments remain a major challenge, even with advanced surgical techniques. At the University of Freiburg, Dr. Wolf is pioneering the development of photoimmunotherapy. Photoimmunotherapy combines light, antibodies and a specialised dye to precisely target tumour cells - simultaneously 'waking up' the immune system.

For over a decade, a class of drugs called BET inhibitors has been tested in cancer trials with high expectations. The biology looked promising. Many cancers depend on oncogenes that (BET) proteins help activate, so blocking BET proteins should slow tumor growth. In the lab, it often did. In patients, results were mostly disappointing: limited responses, significant side effects, and no clear way to predict which tumors would respond at all.

Proof-of-concept study of organoid technology - 26/03/2026

Can organoids improve the treatment of pancreatic cancer?

A clinical trial called UNITEPANC is exploring whether organoid-based approaches can improve the treatment of pancreatic cancer. BIOPRO Baden-Württemberg spoke with the study’s principal investigator and pancreatic cancer specialist, Prof. Dr. Thomas Seufferlein of University Hospital Ulm, to discuss the disease more broadly along with the specific aims of the trial. The interview was conducted by Walter Pytlik on behalf of BIOPRO.

For the first time, researchers have succeeded in mapping the organization of immune cells in human lymph nodes. The study was led by scientists from Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf University Hospital, the DKFZ, the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), and the Max Delbrück Center (MDC) in Berlin. They were able to demonstrate why the architecture of healthy lymph nodes is altered in malignant lymphomas.

In ovarian cancer, immunotherapies using checkpoint inhibitors have so far been effective in only a small number of patients. Researchers at the HI-TRON Mainz* have now discovered that lipid metabolism processes in the tumor microenvironment play a decisive role in how well such therapies work. The findings open up new avenues for using immunotherapies in a more targeted manner, increasing their effectiveness, and overcoming resistance.

How can artificial intelligence support medical imaging diagnostics in the future and significantly improve patient care? Researchers led by Lena Maier-Hein (German Cancer Research Center, DKFZ, and NCT Heidelberg) have developed an innovative concept to address this question. The Carl Zeiss-Stiftung is funding the MEDAL* project with a total of three million euros.

The Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute for Clinical Pharmacology (IKP) at the Bosch Health Campus in Stuttgart is leading Europe’s first EU project to systematically integrate pharmacogenomics into molecular tumor boards (MTB). The goal of PGxMTB is to systematically incorporate patients’ genetic factors into treatment decisions, thereby making cancer therapies safer and more effective.

Immunotherapies have greatly improved the treatment of metastatic melanoma, but they can cause serious side effects. A study led by researchers from Heidelberg University's Medical Faculty, the Heidelberg University Hospital, and the NCT in Heidelberg now shows that autoantibodies detected in the blood before the start of therapy could help to better assess the individual risk of side effects in patients.

The introduction of mammography screening programs in Europe has significantly changed breast cancer diagnoses, accompanied by a decline in breast cancer mortality rates. This is shown by the most comprehensive analyses of population-based data on breast cancer in 21 European countries to date, led by the DKFZ. The most striking finding: after the introduction of screening, significantly more early-stage, less advanced tumors were detected.

Chemotherapy is often a central component of treatment for advanced colorectal cancer. However, not every therapy is equally effective for every patient. Researchers from the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the HI-STEM* stem cell institute, and the biotech company Xilis in Utrecht, Netherlands, have now developed a new method for selecting the most effective drug before treatment begins.

In a published scientific study, researchers have succeeded in accurately diagnosing common types of brain tumors in children and adolescents based on tumor-derived genetic material in cerebrospinal fluid. Until now, these so-called liquid biopsies were not capable enough for such reliable diagnostics. The international research team has therefore optimized a sequencing technique and developed an AI-based computational method. In a later step,…

A severe side effect of radiation therapy can be debilitating fibrotic skin damage. Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now identified a key factor in the development of this radiation damage. Modulating this factor could potentially prevent this severe adverse effect.

Even before a tumour in the pancreas becomes discernible, an activated cancer gene actively remodels its future environment and creates an inflammatory and immune-defensive microenvironment in which the carcinoma can grow. The scientists' study opens up new possibilities for developing personalised intervention strategies - before a difficult-to-treat tumour even develops.

nanodiag BW has received approval from the BMFTR for a further three-year implementation phase under the Clusters4Future initiative. With the approval of €15 million, the innovation network will be able to continue its work on nanopore-based diagnostic methods seamlessly from April 2026 onwards. The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Economic Affairs, Labour and Tourism is supporting the cluster management through accompanying measures.

A key molecular mechanism drives the growth of liver cell cancer while simultaneously suppressing the body's immune response to the tumor. This has now been published in the journal Nature by a team led by researchers from the DKFZ, the UKT, and the Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute. However, the results also show that this very mechanism could help identify patients who respond particularly well to immunotherapy in the…

Rewriting the transcript to heal diseases - 29/01/2026

Therapy involving the umlauts of the genetic alphabet

tRNAs are essential components of the protein synthesis machinery that also act as molecular switches in gene regulation and consequently in disease processes such as cancer. The Heidelberg-based start-up Umlaut.bio is developing novel therapeutics that specifically target tRNAs to intervene at the molecular origin of disease.

Scientists at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), and Mannheim University Medical Center (UMM) are presenting a method that enables artificial intelligence (AI) to learn how to transfer medical image data from animals to humans. This “xeno-learning” could help make surgical procedures safer and more precise in the future – without relying on human training data.

Researchers at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have developed a digital tool that significantly accelerates and improves clinical decisions in molecular precision oncology. The Knowledge Connector enables the structured and standardized evaluation of very extensive molecular tumor profiles and makes them available for personalized therapy decisions faster than before.

Inflammation has to work fast against pathogens—but it can't get out of control. Researchers at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) have now deciphered in more detail how the organism masters this balancing act. Their work shows that cells use two different strategies to precisely control inflammatory genes and thus precisely regulate the inflammatory response.

Recreating tumour tissue in the laboratory as realistically as possible and developing new approaches for personalised cancer medicine: A total of 20 doctoral students in the life sciences and ten Medicine students will be researching this in the new "Organoid-Based mOdelling of Solid Tumours" research training group. They want to gain a better understanding of cancer and better predict the course of the disease and the effect of…

Can the weakened immune systems of older individuals be rejuvenated? Researchers from the DKFZ, HI-STEM*, and the Broad Institute have demonstrated that this is possible with an innovative approach. In a study, the team showed that mRNA technology can be used to transform the liver in mice into a temporary source of important immune regulatory factors that are naturally lost during aging.

Hummingbird Diagnostics GmbH, a pioneer in harnessing blood-based small RNAs for early disease detection and characterization, today announced the publication of a new study in Nature Communications Medicine introducing an Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT)-based method for detecting small RNA modifications in blood.

When gene mutations are found in the tumor of cancer patients, it is often unclear whether they promote tumor growth or whether a targeted therapy could be effective. A research team led by the Medical Center - University of Freiburg has now compiled a catalog in which over 11,000 gene variants of a central gene family were examined and evaluated for their role in tumor growth.