NCT expansion to six sites sealed by minister

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.

The Federal Minister of Education and Research, Bettina Stark-Watzinger, and ministers from the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony signed the federal-state administration agreement for the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT).At the same time, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital inaugurated the extension and annex to the NCT Heidelberg.The client DKFZ ceremonially handed over the key to Heidelberg University Hospital, which operates the building.

It is a historic step for clinical-translational cancer research in Germany: the NCT is expanding its presence from two to six sites. Heidelberg and Dresden will now be joined by the Berlin, Southwest (Tübingen, Stuttgart, Ulm), WERA (Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, Augsburg) and West (Cologne and Essen) sites. Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister of Education and Research, acknowledged the importance of this step at a celebratory launch event in Heidelberg on November 24, 2023: "Cancer remains one of the greatest challenges facing modern medicine. Our strongest tool against it is excellent research. By expanding the National Center for Tumor Diseases to six sites, we want to achieve a breakthrough for personalized cancer research and cancer medicine in equal measure. So that the diagnosis of incurable cancer will soon no longer exist. The NCT combines excellent research with top-class care under one roof. Here, patients receive rapid access to innovative therapeutic approaches. They are involved as research partners from the very beginning. In addition, patient representatives have been involved in the development of a research structure for the first time ever. With the NCT, we are creating something unique that will change cancer research in the long term for the benefit of patients."

Prof. Dr. Dr. h. c. Michael Baumann, Spokesperson of the NCT Steering Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Scientific Director of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), said: "This expansion strengthens our capacity to bring the latest advances in cancer research to patients more quickly. The NCT is thus decisively expanding its important role in the development of innovative cancer therapies."

Prof. Dr. Michael Hallek from NCT West, also spokesperson of the NCT Steering Committee, emphasized the regional impact of the expansion: "The proximity to patients in different federal states enables us to adapt care even better to individual needs. This is a significant step towards personalized cancer therapy."

Rudolf Hauke, spokesperson of the NCT Patient Research Council, said: "We welcome the expansion of the NCT as a step towards even greater integration of the patient's perspective into cancer research and patient care. This integration is crucial for the further development of clinical trials and thus benefits us patients."

Inauguration of the extension to the NCT Heidelberg
In addition to the signing of the federal-state administrative agreement, the NCT Heidelberg celebrated the inauguration of the extension building, which was co-financed by the state of Baden-Württemberg with 20 million euros. Petra Olschowski, Minister of Science, Research and the Arts of the State of Baden-Württemberg, commented: "The DKFZ, Heidelberg University Hospital and German Cancer Aid have written a joint success story with the idea of combining cutting-edge research and state-of-the-art patient care under one roof. The NCT Heidelberg has been doing valuable work in the field of precision oncology since 2004. The spatial expansion will enable even more patients to benefit from the outstanding cancer research in the future."

Ursula Weyrich, Commercial Director of the DKFZ, together with Minister Petra Olschowski, handed over the key in a symbolic act to the speakers of the Board of Directors of the NCT Heidelberg and the Board of Directors of Heidelberg University Hospital: "Research and practice will have more space together and at the same time move even closer together. We hope that the modern aesthetics of the building will contribute to many inspirations and joint innovations in cancer research and treatment for our colleagues at the NCT Heidelberg."

Prof. Dr. Ingo Autenrieth, Chief Medical Director and Chairman of the Board of Heidelberg University Hospital, emphasized the benefits of the new parts of the building: "With the extension and the annex, the NCT Heidelberg now has even more space for clinical research. With the focus on early clinical trials, the comprehensive care of cancer patients at Heidelberg University Hospital will become even more innovative at the highest international level."

Prof. Dr. Stefan Fröhling, Spokesman of the Board of Directors of the NCT Heidelberg, expressed his thanks: "The key symbolizes access to a new building, but also new ways in our close cooperation with all sponsors of the NCT Heidelberg." Prof. Dr. Dirk Jäger, also Spokesman of the Board of Directors of the NCT Heidelberg, emphasized: "The new building supports researchers, doctors and patients in the fight against cancer. Every investment in cancer research helps to save patients' lives."

Facts about the extension and new building of the NCT Heidelberg:

Press photos of the event will be available for free download here from 24.11.2023 at 3 p.m., © Uwe Anspach/DKFZ: https://www.dkfz.de/de/presse/download/nct-erweiterung-24112023.html

The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
With more than 3,000 employees, the DKFZ is the largest biomedical research institution in Germany. Scientists at the DKFZ investigate how cancer develops, identify cancer risk factors and search for new strategies to prevent people from developing cancer. They develop new methods with which tumors can be diagnosed more precisely and cancer patients can be treated more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested parties and experts with individual answers to all questions relating to cancer. In order to transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improve the chances of patients, the DKFZ operates translational centers together with excellent university hospitals and research institutions throughout Germany:

• National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT, 6 sites)
• German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK, 8 sites)
• Hopp Children's Tumor Center (KiTZ) Heidelberg
• Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology (HI-TRON) Mainz - a Helmholtz Institute of the DKFZ
• DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim
• National Cancer Prevention Center (together with the German Cancer Aid)

The DKFZ is funded 90 percent by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Württemberg and is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.

The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT)
The 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: Berlin, Dresden, Heidelberg, SouthWest (Tübingen/Stuttgart-Ulm), WERA (Würzburg with the partners Erlangen, Regensburg and Augsburg) and West (Essen/Cologne). The expansion of the NCT to six sites was driven by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research as part of the National Decade Against Cancer and supported by the federal states of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony. The aim of the NCT is to promote clinical-translational research topics. The aim is to transfer innovations in cancer research into studies more quickly and safely and to treat tumor diseases more successfully while maintaining a high quality of life. The focus is on patients, who are integrated into the NCT structures as research partners so that they have rapid access to new clinical trials and innovative therapeutic approaches.

National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), the Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University and German Cancer Aid. The aim of the NCT Heidelberg is to transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic as quickly as possible and thus benefit patients. This applies to diagnosis as well as treatment, aftercare and prevention. The tumor outpatient clinic is the heart of the NCT Heidelberg. Here, patients benefit from an individual treatment plan drawn up by interdisciplinary panels of experts, the so-called tumor boards. Participation in clinical trials opens up access to innovative therapies. The NCT Heidelberg is therefore a pioneering platform for transferring new research results from the laboratory to the clinic. The NCT Heidelberg cooperates with self-help groups and supports them in their work. The Hopp Children's Tumor Center (KiTZ) was founded in Heidelberg in 2017. The pediatric oncologists at the KiTZ work in joint structures with the NCT Heidelberg.

Heidelberg University Hospital and Medical Faculty: internationally renowned patient care, research and teaching
Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD) is one of the most important medical centers in Germany; the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University is one of the internationally renowned biomedical research institutions in Europe. The common goal is the development of innovative diagnostics and therapies and their rapid implementation for patients. The hospital and faculty employ around 14,500 staff and are committed to training and qualification. In more than 50 specialist clinical departments with around 2,500 beds, around 86,000 patients are treated as inpatients and day patients and more than 1,100,000 patients as outpatients every year.
Together with the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Aid (DKH), the UKHD has established the first National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) in Heidelberg. The aim is to provide care at the highest level as an oncological center of excellence and the rapid transfer of promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic. Together with the DKFZ and Heidelberg University, the UKHD also operates the Hopp Children's Tumor Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), a therapy and research center for oncological and hematological diseases in children and adolescents that is unique in Germany.
The Heidelberg Curriculum Medicinale (HeiCuMed) is at the forefront of medical training programs in Germany. There are currently around 4,000 prospective doctors at the Heidelberg Medical Faculty (MFHD) studying for their degree and doctorate.

Contact for the press:
Dr. Sibylle Kohlstädt
Press Officer Strategic Communication and Public Relations
German Cancer Research Center
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
69120 Heidelberg
T: +49 6221 42 2843
F: +49 6221 42 2968
E-mail: S.Kohlstaedt-at-dkfz.de
E-mail: presse-at-dkfz.de
www.dkfz.de

Janna von Greiffenstern
Communication extended NCT
German Cancer Research Center
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
69120 Heidelberg
T: +49 6221 42 2255
F: +49 6221 42 2968
E-mail: Janna.vonGreiffenstern-at-dkfz-heidelberg.de
www.nct.dkfz.de

Dr. Martin Staiger
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
Communication and Events
Im Neuenheimer Feld 460
69120 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221 42-1755
E-mail: martin.staiger-at-nct-heidelberg.de
www.nct-heidelberg.de

Dr. Stefanie Seltmann
Head of Corporate Communications, Press Spokesperson Heidelberg University Hospital and Medical Faculty of Heidelberg University
Press and Public Relations
Im Neuenheimer Feld 672
69120 Heidelberg
Phone: +49 6221 56-5052
Fax: +49 6221 56-4544
E-mail: Stefanie.Seltmann-at-med.uni-heidelberg.de
www.klinikum.uni-heidelberg.de