Pioneering: New working group develops AI methods for pediatric oncology

Biomedical research is experiencing a rapid increase in high-dimensional molecular data. Prof. Michael Bockmayr and his new working group, “Computational Pediatric Oncology,” at the Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, are developing novel AI methods to evaluate these data for diagnosing and treating childhood cancers.

Personalized treatment approaches are becoming increasingly relevant in pediatric oncology. They rely on a deep and precise characterization of the underlying tumor to optimally adapt the therapy. To this end, clinical, histological, and molecular data must be integrated and evaluated in a standardized manner.

However, analytical methods are often not available for complex research questions. This is where Prof. Bockmayr's works become pivotal: He is developing classification algorithms and novel methods to predict clinically relevant tumor features, such as treatment response. “Data analysis in pediatric oncology is challenging and requires the development of novel methods for specific research questions. It forms a distinct branch of research within pediatric oncology,” explains the scientist, who also works clinically at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE).

Previously, he collaborated with Prof. Ulrich Schüller's research group on the molecular characterization of brain tumors, particularly ependymomas and medulloblastomas. He developed bioinformatics methods to identify molecular subtypes and estimate recurrence risks. Additionally, he is investigating AI applications in pathology to improve precision diagnostics. Now returning as a group leader at the Research Institute, he aims to broaden his research scope to include other types of childhood cancers.

Prof. Bockmayr has worked at the UKE since 2017. Prior to this, he studied medicine and mathematics in Berlin and Cambridge and completed his doctorate at the Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin. In 2023, he was appointed assistant professor in medical bioinformatics and AI in pediatric hematology and oncology at the UKE. Since January 2025, his research group has been included in the Research Institute Children's Cancer Center Hamburg as part of the current growth plan.

More about the Bockmayr research group