Cancer research: National Tumor Center now located in Bavaria for the first time

Association of the four university hospital sites in Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg and Augsburg as "NCT WERA" bundles patient-oriented cutting-edge research / millions in federal funding

Würzburg. For the first time, Bavaria will have its own site for the National Center for Tumor Diseases ("NCT") of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The association of the four university hospital sites in Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg and Augsburg, WERA for short, was announced today (February 2, 2023) as an official NCT site by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). The "NCT WERA" site is coordinated by the University Medical Center Würzburg. In future, the NCT WERA can receive up to 14.5 million euros per year in funding from the BMBF.

The aim of the NCT is to further expand cancer research in a patient-centered manner and thus provide more cancer patients in Germany with access to innovative diagnostic and therapeutic methods in the future. The rapid development of new cancer drugs and personalized medicine tailored to the individual patient should also be further strengthened. The NCT is a cooperation between the German Cancer Research Center and outstanding competence locations in university cancer medicine. In addition to the NCT WERA in Bavaria, three further new NCT sites in Germany were announced today. The expanded NCT now has a total of six sites.

Goal: Making innovations available to patients more quickly / Coordination in Würzburg

The spokesperson for the NCT site WERA is the hematologist/oncologist Prof. Dr. Hermann Einsele, Director of the Medical Clinic II at the University Hospital of Würzburg (UKW). Prof. Einsele: "After we were selected due to our international visibility in the field of new immunotherapies (especially T-cell-based therapies) and new targeted treatments ("PROTACs") in cancer research and treatment, all four WERA partners have now jointly invested an enormous amount of work in the process of concept development and in a specific implementation plan. Patients in the rural region in particular will now also benefit from this. By establishing new professorships, new junior research groups, e.g. in the field of immunotherapy, and above all by significantly expanding and improving the study infrastructure, we will be able to advance innovations much faster in the future and integrate them into local care. The award also shows that top achievements in research and clinical translation are also possible outside the major metropolitan regions."

Science Minister Markus Blume: "Cooperation and innovation are the decisive means against cancer"

Bavaria's Science Minister Markus Blume emphasizes: "Together we are strong - this also applies to the fight against cancer. The inclusion of the hospital network in the National Tumor Center is impressive proof that the whole of Bavaria is an outstanding research location and the first port of call for cutting-edge medicine. Together, our university hospitals are finding answers to one of the biggest questions facing mankind: How can we win the fight against cancer? Cooperation and innovation are the decisive means against cancer, one of the scourges of mankind."

The four WERA partners cover a service area of around eight million people. Among other things, the NCT WERA will focus on the further expansion of innovative immunotherapies ("CAR-T cells") and the development of new molecular therapeutics. In addition, there will be targeted offers for young scientists and the existing network of clinical studies will also be further expanded in large rural regions.

The new Bavarian NCT site for the joint network of university medicine in Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg and Augsburg will significantly expand the research and study infrastructure at all four WERA sites and promote the translation of results from basic science into clinical studies and clinical care, particularly in the rural regions of the WERA sites. Last year, the alliance of the four Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) sites was awarded the title of "Oncological Center of Excellence" by German Cancer Aid ("Comprehensive Cancer Center Alliance WERA"). More than 10,000 new patients are already being included in joint clinical trials here every year. The next steps for the NCT WERA are now to establish the joint organizational structures and to further expand research activities with the active involvement of patients.

Background "National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT)":

The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) is a long-term cooperation between the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), excellent partners in university medicine and other outstanding research partners at various locations in Germany. Heidelberg has been the first location of the NCT since 2004, Dresden has been the second location since 2015. As part of the National Decade Against Cancer, which was proclaimed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) at the beginning of 2019, the NCT has now been expanded nationwide by four new sites after a selection process lasting several years. One of these new sites is now the NCT WERA (source and further information: German Cancer Research Center - dkfz.de).

Comments on the appointment as "NCT WERA"

Würzburg:

Prof. Dr. Jens Maschmann, Medical Director of the University Hospital of Würzburg: "This appointment is a great success for university medicine in Würzburg and for Bavaria. It is a direct demonstration of the great innovative strength of university medicine within the network. The existing and successful cooperation in networks can be further expanded in an exemplary manner. Our joint patients will benefit from this. I would like to thank all members of the WERA network who have contributed to this."

Prof. Dr. Matthias Frosch, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Würzburg: "The appointment to the NCT impressively demonstrates the strengths of Bavaria as a research location and especially of the four WERA partners with Würzburg as the coordinating body. Especially the field of action from molecular mechanisms to translation as a fundamental principle in the NCT WERA is certainly exemplary in this form. At the same time, it shows how scientific excellence and interdisciplinary cooperation can be combined at several locations. Cancer research in Germany will benefit enormously from this."

Prof. Dr. Ralf Bargou, University Hospital Würzburg, Director of the CCC Mainfranken and spokesperson for the CCC Alliance WERA as a merger of the four existing Comprehensive Cancer Centers: "With this step, we can further expand the existing close cooperation between the university cancer centers. The expertise of four Bavarian university cancer centers can thus be further bundled. The NCT funding will significantly strengthen the study infrastructure and clinical research of the CCCs in our WERA Alliance. This will lead to significantly improved and faster access to innovative treatment approaches and personalized medicine for cancer patients in our region. Last but not least, cooperation with physicians in private practice and other hospitals in the region will also benefit from this."

Erlangen:

Prof. Dr. Matthias W. Beckmann, Deputy Spokesperson of the CCC Alliance WERA, Head of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Erlangen-EMN: " In 2022, we were delighted to receive the award from German Cancer Aid as one of the 15 Oncological Centers of Excellence. Now we've received another award as an NCT site. International experts have expressed great confidence in our ability to bring the results of cutting-edge research directly to those affected in local and regional care."

Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Heinrich Iro, Medical Director of the University Hospital Erlangen: "We are delighted about this award. The University Hospital Erlangen aims to offer its cancer patients the best possible diagnostics and care. With the founding of the CCC Erlangen-EMN and the German Center for Immunotherapy, the first milestones were set in Erlangen. This was followed by the award from German Cancer Aid as an Oncology Center of Excellence in cooperation with our partner university hospitals in Würzburg, Regensburg and Augsburg. As of today, we are now part of the National Center for Tumor Diseases ("NCT WERA") of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). This guarantees an optimal, cross-location exchange between cancer researchers and physicians and ultimately benefits the care of oncology patients in the region and far beyond."

Regensburg:

Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Herr, Deputy Spokesperson of the NCT WERA, Director of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Internal Medicine III at the University Hospital Regensburg (UKR) and Dean of Research at the University of Regensburg: " The appointment of our network as NCT WERA strengthens our position as an oncological center of excellence and is a great recognition of our achievements in this prestigious funding process. It is also an expression of the many years of highly successful tumor research at our faculty as well as the intensive collaboration and networking with our WERA partners. Particularly commendable at the NCT is the planned active participation and collaboration of patients, who are involved in all decision-making processes in the NCT network to an extent never before seen in Germany."

Prof. Dr. Oliver Kölbl, Medical Director of the UKR: "As the University Hospital Regensburg, together with our partners in Würzburg, Erlangen and Regensburg, we are delighted to now be among the best in cancer research and care in Germany as NCT WERA. The research network in the NCT also ensures that future and innovative therapies can also be offered here in a timely manner."

Augsburg:

Prof. Dr. Klaus Markstaller, Chairman of the Board and Medical Director of Augsburg University Hospital: "Augsburg University Hospital is delighted about the recognition and promotion of cutting-edge medicine in the field of oncology. In recent years, all structural requirements have been created at Augsburg University Hospital that allow strong networking with other top centers in Bavaria and benefit all patients in the Bavarian-Swabian region. The University Hospital Augsburg is thus once again living up to its university role in this large catchment area."

Prof. Dr. Martin Trepel, University Hospital Augsburg, Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center Augsburg: " The selection as a site of the National Center for Tumor Diseases is a great distinction for the association of the four WERA cancer centers and an enormously important step for cancer research. Together with and for our patients, we can now expand and implement cancer diagnostics and therapy as well as the innovative, patient-oriented tumor research that is so essential for progress. This interlinked form of treatment and research will noticeably and sustainably change and improve the healthcare landscape in Germany, and particularly in our region."

To the press release on the website of the University Hospital of Würzburg: University Hospital of Würzburg: Cancer research: National Tumor Center now for the first time with a location in Bavaria (ukw.de)