Institute

A science of its own

Childhood cancer

Childhood malignancies differ from those of adults and require treatment concepts specifically tailored to young patients. In contrast to adult cancers, the number of cases in children is low – public attention and funding for research into these diseases are limited. Research with a particular focus on pediatric cancer is critical to improve diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for affected children.

#cure for all

Around 80 percent of all children with cancer can be cured today, but the treatment burden is substantial with sometimes life-threatening side effects. In addition, more than 70 percent of young patients suffer from therapy- or tumor-related long-term health issues, such as hormonal disorders, heart disease, hearing loss or cognitive disorders, or even secondary tumors in the course of their lives. To find a gentle cure for all affected children in the future, researchers in our institute have been committed to explore the molecular basis of childhood cancer for more than 15 years.

We close knowledge gaps

The Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg was founded in 2006 by the funding Association of the Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg as a non-profit organization in public-private partnership with the University Medical Center Hamburg and the Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology. Today, a staff of about 50 individuals work on central topics of pediatric oncology: Leukemias, brain tumors as well as stem cell transplantation and immunotherapies. Our institute is firmly integrated into a network of national and international research institutions. In addition, our scientists work closely with the pediatric study centers and clinical patient care at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). By intertwining basic and translational research with patient care we hope to achieve cure for all children, with fewer adverse effects in the short and long term.

Prof. Dr. Ingo Müller, Prof. Dr. Martin Horstmann, Prof. Dr. Ulrich Schüller
"Research in molecular and cell biology has made rapid progress in recent years. We now have methods at our disposal that were beyond our imagination just ten years ago. We must take advantage of the opportunities this presents for improving cancer treatment for our young patients."
Prof. Dr. Martin Horstmann

Connected Research

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Selma Meyer Dissertation Award

Award for "future-oriented pediatric dissertation".