Together we achieve more: Cooperation with other facilities and leading institutions also enables the KiTZ to pursue its mission for children and adolescents with cancer faster, more successfully and even more ambitiously. In this way, effective synergies develop, resulting in new approaches reaching young patients more quickly. Research at the KiTZ is also supported and spurred on by several research collaborations. Among others, we collaborate with the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) and the Hannover Medical School, as well as with many other institutions. We have listed some of them here.
The Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology (CCU Neuropathology) focuses on the molecular genetics of childhood and adult brain tumors, neurofibromin function, and molecular reference analysis for brain tumor studies. We are particularly interested in the development of molecular markers for routine diagnosis.
You can find more information about our work on the DKFZ pages of the CCU Neuropathology.
The goal of the Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Pediatric Oncology is to advance the therapy of children and adolescents with neuronal malignancies including brain tumors. Epigenetic regulation plays an important role in stem cell biology, differentiation and development. Our research aims to elucidate the molecular biology of epigenetic programs to develop individualized, targeted treatment regimens, with the goal of conducting phase I-III clinical trials in pediatric oncology based on molecular principles.
You can find more information about our work on the DKFZ pages of the CCU Pediatric Oncology.
Head of this CCU is KiTZ director Olaf Witt.
The most common childhood malignancy is acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). While most children and adolescents have a good chance of cure thanks to modern treatment protocols, patients with relapses of T-ALL face a particularly poor prognosis. The Clinical Cooperation Unit (CCU) Pediatric Leukemia therefore tries to answer the question how the biology of T-ALL relapses explains the pronounced therapy resistance in this challenging phase of the evolution of this leukemia type.
You can find more information about our work on the DKFZ pages of the CCU Pediatric Leukemia.
Head of this CCU is KiTZ director Andreas Kulozik.
The Division of Molecular Genetics at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) studies tumor pathomechanisms to better understand the biological behavior of tumors. Our research involves the comprehensive molecular characterization of tumors at the level of the genome, the methylome and/or the transcriptome, using microarray technologies and next-generation sequencing of nucleic acids. Candidate genes are subsequently functionally validated in vitro and in vivo. Integration of these data will enable identification of molecular pathways and networks that can serve as targets for targeted cancer therapies. To translate these findings into clinical practice, specific inhibitors are being tested in preclinical models.
For more information, please visit the DKFZ pages on the Division of Molecular Genetics.
The Molecular Medicine Partnership Unit is a collaboration between the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). Its goal is to closely link molecular research and medical treatment.
The MMPU is headed by Prof. Dr. Matthias Hentze (EMBL), Dr. Jan O. Korbel (EMBL) and Prof. Dr. Andreas Kulozik.
Research within the MMPU focuses on molecular relationships of common as well as highly relevant rare diseases, with a particular focus on diseases occurring in childhood and adolescence. MMPU staff are drawn from both institutions and research groups are mostly led by two collaborating group leaders.
Currently, three research areas of the MMPU support the KiTZ:
Links for further information: