Onko-Talk NRW
Panel discussion (from left): moderator Sarah Majorczyk, Prof. Michael Hallek, Ina Brandes (Member of the State Parliament of North Rhine-Westphalia), Prof. Martin Schuler – Photo: Thies Schöning, CIO Cologne
The “Onko-Talk NRW” is a new joint event series organized by the West German Cancer Center of University Medicine Essen (WTZ Essen) and the Center for Integrated Oncology at the University Hospital Cologne (CIO Cologne) in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Science of the State of North Rhine-Westphalia.
The series highlights what NCT West stands for: excellent cancer research, close integration of clinical care and science, and a strong commitment to patient involvement.
The dialogue-oriented format primarily addresses patients and their relatives as well as participants from clinical practice, research, patient advocacy groups, health insurance providers, and the pharmaceutical industry. The series launched in 2025 with two events focusing on aspects of patient involvement: “Why is cancer research important for patients?” and “From patient to expert: Can people affected by cancer really advance research?” Both events highlighted the importance of translational research and emphasized the active role of patients as partners in oncological research.
The third Onko-Talk NRW took place on January 19, 2025, at CIO Cologne under the theme “Research breakthroughs from North Rhine-Westphalia that have changed oncology.” Around 200 participants attended and were deeply impressed by the passionate presentation given by Priv.-Doz. Dr. Othman Al-Sawaf. Through an international study on chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), he demonstrated for the first time that a time-limited, one-year therapy can be equivalent to continuous treatment—an outcome with direct implications for international treatment standards.
Further advances were presented by Prof. Dr. Peter Borchmann, head of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG), the world’s largest academic research group dedicated to Hodgkin lymphoma. He showed how long-term academic studies not only enable excellent survival rates but increasingly address quality of life and long-term side effects in a systematic way.
The perspective of patients was once again an integral part of the format. Powerful personal accounts, including experiences with CAR T-cell therapy, illustrated the tangible benefits of innovative research and highlighted the importance of specialized and trustworthy care structures. The NCT’s commitment to closely linking research and patient care became clearly visible in these discussions.
During the panel discussion, North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister for Science Ina Brandes joined Prof. Martin Schuler and Prof. Michael Hallek to underline the strategic importance of cutting-edge cancer research for the scientific landscape of North Rhine-Westphalia. She emphasized that the state intends to continue strengthening these existing research capabilities through its science policy.
The Onko-Talk NRW alternates between Cologne and Essen, with the program largely shaped by experts and patients from the respective host location. The talk format brings together scientific excellence, clinical application, and patient involvement in an informative and engaging way. Participants particularly value the strong presence of political representatives. For NCT West and its supporting institutions, the format represents more than an event series: it is a platform to make research transparent, strengthen trust, and actively foster dialogue with the public.