"Epigenetic dysregulation, which refers to changes in how genes are switched on or off rather than in the DNA sequence itself, is increasingly recognized as a major driver of cancer. Polycomb Repressive Complex 1.1 (PRC1.1) is a key epigenetic regulator and often altered in blood cancers and sarcomas. These alterations can disable PRC1.1 or hijack its function, either lifting silencing of harmful genes or redirecting activity to promote uncontrolled growth. My project aims to systematically map PRC1.1 changes in patient tumors, determine their effects on gene regulation and chromatin structure, and explore therapies to reverse or exploit epigenetic reprogramming. The DKFZ clinician scientist fellowship creates the ideal research environment to support this project and my career as clinician scientist in translational oncology and precision medicine."
- Dr. Eva Johanna Schäfer (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2025)
“My motivation to pursue the DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship is driven by the goal of making high-quality prostate cancer early detection accessible to all patients. I am fascinated by innovative approaches that combine artificial intelligence with clinical care, particularly when they offer simple, scalable solutions that can be integrated into everyday clinical workflows. The Clinician Scientist Fellowship offers the ideal environment to further develop and translate such approaches, enabling me to connect cutting-edge cancer research at DKFZ with practical tools that improve prostate cancer detection and care in routine clinical practice.”
- Dr. Caelán Haney-Aubert (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2025)
“The blood–brain barrier (BBB) has long stood as a formidable gatekeeper, preventing effective therapies and immune cells from reaching malignant brain tumors. As a neuro-oncologist and clinician scientist, I am driven by the vision of transforming this barrier from an obstacle into an opportunity. My goal is to use focused ultrasound (FUS) to transiently and precisely open the BBB, guiding T cells into gliomas and amplifying the impact of mRNA-based tumor vaccination. By integrating cutting-edge mechanistic research with insights from patient care, I aim to develop a translational platform that creates next-generation immunotherapies. The DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship offers the unparalleled environment to pursue this ambitious vision, allowing me to dedicate my full energy to bridging clinic and laboratory, and ultimately brining hope to patients with high-grade brain tumors.”
– Dr. Tom Kuhn (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2025)
"Every cancer has a unique “fingerprint”- specific changes in its genetic code and chemical markers (known as methylation) that tell us exactly what kind of tumor it is, and which drugs might stop it. Currently, identifying these markers usually requires a solid tissue biopsy or surgery.
My research focuses on "Liquid Biopsies." Most tumors shed tiny fragments of their DNA into the bloodstream. By analyzing this "cell-free DNA" from a simple blood draw, we aim to identify the tumor's fingerprint without the need for invasive surgery. My goal is to investigate whether, by shifting from invasive tissue biopsies to simple blood draws, we can diagnose tumors earlier, identify therapeutic targets sooner, and monitor minimal residual disease (MRD) with greater precision. The DKFZ offers an unparalleled, collaborative environment that is essential for this mission."
– Dr. Florian Iser (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2025)
“My motivation to pursue the DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship is to bridge the gap between clinical care and systemic impact. As a clinician from Latin America, I have witnessed that medical expertise alone cannot solve access inequities; we need Implementation Science to turn evidence into sustainable practice. This fellowship, hosted by the Division of Policy and Implementation Research, offers the unique mentorship and methodological rigor I need to transform this project into a sustainable public health policy, transitioning my career from treating individuals to designing systems that heal populations.”
- Dr. Jimmy Daza (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2025)
"Colorectal cancer is one of the most common causes of cancer death worldwide. A key problem is that the disease is often only diagnosed at an advanced stage and many patients develop resistance to conventional chemotherapy. In the TROPHIT1 clinical trial, patients with metastatic colorectal cancer receive the drug Sacituzumab govitecan - an antibody-drug conjugatet hat binds specifically to the protein TROP2.
As part of my Clinician Scientist Fellowship, I am working on the so-called reverse translation of the project. In addition to clinical efficacy testing, we analyze blood and tumor tissue samples to find out which factors are responsible for possible therapy resistance.
After working as a medical doctor for one year, my motivation to pursue a DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship is to find a way to combine my passion for science with improvement of patient's treatment. I am very grateful about this opportunity and hope to create a scientific impact that will help to overcome therapy resistance and improve the dismal prognosis of advanced metastatic colorectal cancer."
- Dr. Luisa Nader (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2025)
"Fighting cancer suceeds increasingly by reprogramming the immune system to tackle the malignant tumor cells leading to complete remissions in several tumor types. However, the tumor microenvironment is a significant barrier for immunotherapy, especially in solid tumors. Thus, my aim is to gain deeper knowledge of cellular and molecular mechanisms inside the tumor microenvironment leading to dysfunctional anti-tumor immune response and immunotherapy resistance. The clinician scientist program at DKFZ is the perfect place to deepen my integration of cutting-edge cancer research with patient care, and I believe the program will enhance my ability to translate scientific discoveries into impactful clinical applications."
- Dr. Janik Engelmann (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2024)
“Childhood ependymoma is a particularly aggressive and therapy-resistant cancer occurring mainly in the brain. Despite intensive surgery and radiotherapy, many tumors relapse and effective treatments for these cases are lacking. In this project, we test how different ependymoma models respond to irradiation and to a library of drugs with high potential for use in children. The goal is to discover personalized therapy strategies for children with ependymoma and to identify novel approaches that could guide future clinical trials. The DKFZ clinician scientist program enables me to fully dedicate myself to this effort for now, in order to set up the preclinical groundwork that I hope to see patients profit from in my further clinical career.”
- Leonhard Valentin Bamberg (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2024)
“Our research focuses on development and testing of AI-algorithms which can automatically find and measure tumor manifestations, so called focal lesions, from whole-body MRIs of multiple myeloma patients. Beyond the initial training and testing of AI-algorithms, I focus in translation of AI-algorithmy into clinicla practice. To pursue this path, the Clinician Scientist Fellowship at DKFZ Heidelberg provides me with an excellent environment of researchers from the fields of computer science and oncolocy, and allows me to spend protected reserach time while advancing my clinical training.”
- Dr. Markus Wennmann (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2024)
“As a Clinician Scientist, I aim to bridge the gap between research and clinical practice, using knowledge from both fields to advance Liquid Biopsy applications for patient benefit. My project and career development are strongly supported by the DKFZ, which offers cutting-edge infrastructure, a dynamic sarcoma research community, and a strong clinical-translational link. Together with the NCT, it provides an interdisciplinary and innovative environment that fosters the translation of scientific discoveries into clinical practice, making it the ideal place to advance my research and career.”
- Dr. Anja Lisa Riediger (Awardee DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellowship 2024)
Voices of Former DKFZ Clinician Scientist Fellows
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