Major Cancer Biology Faculty

Faculty, Lecturers and Instructors - scientists from all DKFZ Research Programs actively contribute to the education of our master students and provide splendid interdisciplinary training in basic and translational cancer research in the fields of molecular and cellular tumor biology, biophysics and medical physics, structural and functional genomics and proteomics, systems biology, tumor immunology, tumor virology, tumor epidemiology, toxicology, and translational oncology.

Faculty, Lecturers and Instructors

A woman in a red sweater holds a certificate while standing next to a man in a light blue shirt. They are both smiling and standing in front of a green chalkboard, celebrating an achievement related to cancer biology education.

Many DKFZ laboratories are incorporated into our innovative Major "Cancer Biology" Program. This allows the students to experience cutting edge science and to interact with internationally leading scientists at a very early stage of their career.

The lists of lecturers and instructors actively involved in the Major Cancer Biology study program are arranged according to their affiliation with the various Research Divisions and Groups of the five DKFZ Research Programs (Forschungsschwerpunkte):

Prof. Dr. Peter ANGEL, Division of Signal Transduction and Growth Control (A100)
Prof. Dr. Hellmut AUGUSTIN, Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis (A190)
Prof. Dr. Tobias DICK, Division of Redox Regulation (A160)
Dr. Marieke ESSERS, Division of Inflammatory Stress in Stem Cells (A011)
Prof. Dr. Michaela FRYE, Division of Mechanisms Regulating Gene Expression (A350)
Dr. Sarah GEIGER, Division of Inflammatory Stress in Stem Cells (A011)
Prof. Dr. Ilse HOFMANN, Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis (A190) and Core Facility Antibodies (W170)
Dr. Melina HUSSMANN, Division of Vascular Oncology and Metastasis (A190)
Dr. Rene-Filip JACKSTADT, Junior Research Group Cancer Progression and Metastasis (A013) and HI-STEM
Dr. Ashok Kumar JAYAVELU, Research Group Proteomics and Cancer Cell Signaling in the Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Leukemia (A400) and Hopp Children's Cancer Center KiTZ
Dr. Susanne KLEBER, Division of Molecular Neurobiology (A290)
Dr. Hai-Kun LIU, Division of Molecular Neurogenetics (A240)
Prof. Dr. Frank LYKO, Division of Epigenetics (A130)
Dr. Moritz MALL, Junior Research Group Cell Fate Engineering and Disease Modeling (A340)
Prof. Dr. Ana MARTIN-VILLALBA, Division of Molecular Neurobiology (A290)
Dr. Michael MILSOM, Division of Experimental Hematology (A012)
Dr. Wilhem PALM, DKFZ Junior Research Group Cell Signaling and Metabolism (A330)
Dr. Manuel RODRIGUEZ PAREDES, Division of Epigenetics (A130)
Prof. Dr. Almut SCHULZE, Division of Tumour Metabolism and Microenvironment (A410)
Prof. Dr. Andreas TRUMPP, Division of Stem Cells and Cancer (A010) and HI-STEM
Prof. Dr. Viktor UMANSKY, Clinical Cooperation Unit for Dermato-Oncology (A370)
Dr. Jennifer WISCHHUSEN, Division of Stem Cells and Cancer (A010)

Dr. Ana BANITO, Junior Research Group Soft-Tissue Sarcoma (B380) and Hopp Children's Cancer Center KiTZ
Dr. Kim BOONEKAMP, Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics (B110)
Prof. Dr. Michael BOUTROS, Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics (B110)
Prof. Dr. Benedikt BRORS, Division of Applied Bioinformatics (B330)
PD Dr. Maïwen CAUDRON-HERGER, Research Group RNA-Protein Complexes and Cell Proliferation (B150)
Dr. Priya CHUDASAMA, Emmy Noether Junior Research Group Precision Sarcoma Research (B390)
Dr. Stefania DEL PRETE, Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution (B270)
Dr. Celia DOBANO-lOPEZ; Immune Modulation in Cancer Group in the Division of Molecular Genetics (B060)
Dr. Cihan ERKUT, Division of Applied Functional Genomics (B290)
PD Dr. Aurélie ERNST, DKFZ Junior Group Genome Instability in Tumors (B420)
Dr. Angelika FELDMANN, DKFZ Junior Group Mechanisms of Genome Control (B460)
Prof. Dr. Stefan FRÖHLING, Division of Translational Oncology (B340) and NCT
Dr. Clarissa GERHÄUSER, Cancer Chemoprevention and Epigenomics Group in the Division of Cancer Epigenomics (B370)
Dr. Violaine GOIDTS, DKFZ Junior Group Brain Tumor Translational Targets (B067)
Dr. Mark HARTMANN, Division of Translational Medical Oncology (B340) and and NCT Section Translational Cancer Epigenomics
Dr. Dominic HELM, GPCF Genomics and Proteomics Core Facility - Protein Analysis Unit (W120)
Prof. Dr. David T.W. JONES, Division of Pediatric Glioma Research (B360) and Hopp Children's Cancer Center KiTZ
Prof. Dr. Ursula KLINGMÜLLER, Division of Systems Biology of Signal Transduction (B200)
Dr. Cindy KÖRNER, Division of Molecular Genome Analysis (B050)
Prof. Dr. Jeroen KRIJGSVELD, Division of Proteomics of Stem Cells and Cancer (B230)
Dr. Lena KUTSCHER, DKFZ Junior Research Group Developmental Origins of Pediatric Cancer (B430) and Hopp Children's Cancer Center KiTZ
PD Dr. Stephanie LAUFS, Core Area Translational Medical Oncology at NCT
Prof. Dr. Peter LICHTER, Division of Molecular Genetics (B060)
PD Dr. Daniel LIPKA, Division of Translational Medical Oncology (B340) and NCT Section Translational Cancer Epigenomics
Dr. Maria LLAMAZARES PRADA, Lung Cancer Epigenomics Group in the Division of Cancer Epigenomics (B370)
Dr. Fabricio LOAYZA-PUCH, Junior Research Group Translational Control and Metabolism (B250)
Dr. Pradhipa MANIVANNAN, Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics (B110)
Prof. Dr. Duncan ODOM, Division of Regulatory Genomics and Cancer Evolution (B270)
Prof. Dr. Christiane OPITZ, Division of Metabolic Crosstalk in Cancer (B350)
Prof. Dr. Stefan PFISTER, Division of Pediatric Neurooncology (B062) and Hopp Children's Cancer Center KiTZ
Prof. Dr. Christoph PLASS, Division of Cancer Epigenomics (B370)
Dr. Fillip PORT, Division of Signaling and Functional Genomics (B110)
Dr. Tamara PRENTZELL, Division of Metabolic Crosstalk in Cancer (B350)
PD Dr. Stefan PUSCH, Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology (B300)
Dr. Veronica RODRIGUES DE MELO, Division of Molecular Genome Analysis (B050)
Dr. Philipp RÖßNER, Immune Modulation in Cancer Group in the Division of Molecular Genetics (B060)
Dr. Michael SCHERER, Computational and Single-Cell Epigenomics Group in the Division of Cancer Epigenomics (B370)
Dr. Marcel SCHILLING, Division of Systems Biology of Signal Transduction (B200)
Prof. Dr. Claudia SCHOLL, Division of Applied Functional Genomics (B290)
Dr. Maximilian SCHÖNUNG, Division of Translational Medical Oncology (B340) and NCT Section Translational Cancer Epigenomics
PD Dr. Martina SEIFFERT, Immune Modulation in Cancer Group in the Division of Molecular Genetics (B060)
Dr. Gianluca SIGISMONDO, Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology (B300) and Translational Proteomics and Epigenetics Team, Neuropathology Research, Heidelberg University Institute of Pathology
Prof. Dr. Rocio SOTILLO, Division of Molecular Thoracic Oncology (B220)
Dr. Julia SUNDHEIMER, Division of Pediatric Neurooncology (B062) and Hopp Children's Cancer Center KiTZ
Prof. Dr. Aurelio TELEMAN, Division of Signal Transduction in Cancer and Metabolism (B140)
Dr. Mathieu VIRAZELS, Immune Modulation in Cancer Group in the Division of Molecular Genetics (B060)
Dr. Johanna WAGNER, Division of Translational Oncology (B340) and NCT
Dr. Dieter WEICHENHAN, Division of Cancer Epigenomics (B370)
PD Dr. Frank WESTERMANN, Division of Neuroblastoma Genomics (B087) Hopp Children's Cancer Center KiTZ
Prof. Dr. Stefan WIEMANN, Division of Molecular Genome Analysis (B050)
Dr. Piotr ZADORA, Division of Systems Biology of Signal Transduction (B200)
Dr. Marc ZUCKERMANN, Preclinical Modeling Group, Division of Pediatric Neurooncology (B062) and Hopp Children's Cancer Center KiTZ

Prof. Dr. Michael HOFFMEISTER, Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research (C070)
Prof. Dr. Rudolf KAAKS, Division of Cancer Epidemiology (C020)
Prof. Dr. Justo LORENZO BERMEJO, Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics (IMBI), University Hospital Heidelberg

Prof. Dr. Stella AUTENRIETH, Research Group Dendritic Cells in Infection and Cancer in the Division of Virus-associated Carcinogenesis (D431)
Dr. Marco BINDER, Research Goup Dynamics of early viral infection and the innate antiviral response in the Division of Virus-associated Carcinogenesis (D430)
Dr. Timo BUND, Research Group Episomal-Persistent DNA in Cancer- and Chronic Diseases (D460)
Dr. Christian BUSSE, Division of B Cell Immunology (D130)
Dr. Angel CID-ARREGUI, Project Group Targeted Tumor Vaccines in the Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity (D120)
Prof. Dr. Dr. Henri-Jacques DELECLUSE, Division of Pathogenesis of Virus Associated Tumors (D400)
PD Dr. Susanne DELÉCLUSE, Division of Pathogenesis of Virus Associated Tumors (D400)
Dr. Nikolaus DIETLEIN, Division of Cellular Immunology (D110)
Dr. Dr. Michael DILL, Junior Research Group Experimental Hepatology, Inflammation and Cancer (D500)
Prof. Dr. Stefan EICHMÜLLER, Research Group GMP and T Cell Therapy (D210)
Dr. Thorsten FEYERABEND, Division of Cellular Immunology (D110)
Dr. Edward GREEN, Immunogenomics Team in the Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology (D170)
Dr. Richard HARBOTTLE, Research Group DNA Vectors (D420)
Dr. Gemma HARTLEY, Division of B Cell Immunology (D130)
Dr. Felix HARTMANN, Junior Research Group Systems Immunology and Single Cell Biology (D260)
Dr. Johannes HEIDBÜCHEL, Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy (D490) and NCT
Dr. Dr. Mathias LEBER, Applied ViroTherapeutics Group in the Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy (D490) and NCT
Dr. Bénédicte LENOIR, Junior Research Group Systems Immunology and Single Cell Biology (D260)
Dr. John LINDNER, BioMed X Institute, Heidelberg (Immunology Discovery Technologies)
Prof. Dr. Martin MÜLLER, Research Group Tumorvirus-specific Vaccination Strategies (D335)
PD Dr. Dirk NETTELBECK, Oncolytic Adenovirus Group in the Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy (D490) and NCT
Dr. Jürg NÜESCH, Research Group Parvovirus Host Cell Interactions in the Division of Virus-associated Carcinogenesis (D430)
Prof. Dr. Rienk OFFRINGA, Division of Molecular Oncology of Gastrointestinal Tumors (D200) and DKFZ-Bayer Immunotherapeutics Lab
Dr. Wolfram OSEN, Research Group GMP and T Cell Therapy (D210)
Prof. Dr. Fotini (Nina) PAPAVASILIOU, Division of Immune Diversity (D150)
Dr. Riccardo PECORI, Division of Immune Diversity (D150)
Dr. Thomas PLUM, Division of Cellular Immunology (D110)
Dr. Isabel POSCHKE, NCT Immune Monitoring Unit, Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology (D170)
Dr. Jens PUSCHHOF, Junior Research Group Epithelium Microbiome lnteractions (D300)
Prof. Dr. Hans-Reimer RODEWALD, Division of Cellular Immunology (D110)
Dr. Patrick SCHMIDT, Cellular Therapies Team in the Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity (D120) and NCT; Research Group GMP & T Cell Therapy (D210)
Dr. Indrabahadur SINGH, Emmy Noether Research Group Epigenetic Machineries and Cancer in the Division of Chronic Inflammation and Cancer (D440)
Dr. Ana STOJANOVIC, Immunobiochemistry Division (UMM)
Prof. Dr. Dr. Guy UNGERECHTS, Clinical Cooperation Unit Virotherapy (D490) and NCT
Dr. Ilka WAHL, Division of B Cell Immunology (D130)
Prof. Dr. Hedda WARDEMANN, Division of B Cell Immunology (D130)
Dr. Tim WATERBOER, Division of Infections and Cancer Epidemiology (D320)
Dr. Heiko WEYD, Research Group Tumorvirus-specific Vaccination Strategies (D335) and Clinical Cooperation Unit Applied Tumor Immunity (D120)

Prof. Dr. Dr. Amir ABDOLLAHI, Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology (E210)
Prof. Dr. Peter BACHERT, Research Group NMR spectroscopy and CEST imaging, Division of Medical Physics in Radiology (E020)
Dr. Martina BENEŠOVÁ-SCHÄFER, Junior Research Group Translational Radiotheranostics (E270)
PD Dr. Sebastian BICKELHAUPT, tMRI Lab, Institute of Radiology. University Hospital Erlangen
Dr. Jovana BOJCEVSKI, Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology (E210)
Dr. Thomas FIEDLER, Project Group Electromagnetic Simulations and RF Safety, Division of Medical Physics in Radiology (E020)
Dr. Aoife GAHLAWAT, Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology (E210)
Prof. Dr. Jochen HESS, Experimental and Translational Head and Neck Oncology in the Division Radiooncology / Radiobiology (E220) and Heidelberg University Hospital
Dr. Paul JÄGER, Junior Research Group Interactive Machine Learning (E290)
Dr. Jürgen JENNE, Clinical Cooperation Unit Molecular Radiation Oncology (E055)
Dr. Manfred JUGOLD, Core Facility Small Animal Imaging Center (W240)
Prof. Dr. Christian KARGER, Research Group Applied Medical Radiation Physics, Division of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology (E040)
Dr. Stefan KEGEL, Division of Medical Physics in Radiology (E020)
Dr. Andreas KORZOWSKI, Research Group NMR spectroscopy and CEST imaging, Division of Medical Physics in Radiology (E020)
Dr. Tristan KUDER, Research Group Diffusion Weighted Imaging, Division of Medical Physics in Radiology (E020)
Dr. Jan KUNTZ, Equinox Healthcare Radiation Therapy Centre
Dr. Ina KURTH, Division of Radiooncology / Radiobiology (E220)
Prof. Dr. Mark LADD, Division of Medical Physics in Radiology (E020)
Jens LANG, Staff Unit Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (W060)
Dr. Jörg PETER, Research Group Functional and Molecular Emission Computed Tomography, Division of Medical Physics in Radiology (E020)
Dr. Mareike ROSCHER, Morszeck Preclinical Trial Unit (PCTU), Division of Radiooncology / Radiobiology (E220)
Dr. Stefan SAWALL, Division of X-Ray Imaging and Computed Tomography (E025)
Prof. Dr. Joao SECO, Division of Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology (E041)
Dr. Christina STENGL, Research Group Translational Research for Ion Beam Therapy, Division of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology (E040)
Dr. Jose Alberto VEDELAGO, Research Group Translational Research for Ion Beam Therapy, Division of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology (E040)
PD Dr. Fabian WEYKAMP, Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology (E050)
Dr. Niklas WAHL, Research Group Radiotherapy Optimization, Division of Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology (E040)
Dr. Barbara WITULLA, Staff Unit Radiation Protection and Dosimetry (W060)
Prof. Dr. Christian ZIENER, Division of Radiology (E010)

How to become a Major Cancer Biology Faculty Member?

If you are DKFZ scientist or cooperative partner and wish to actively contribute to our study program by, e.g., giving lectures or tutorials, by organizing (part of) a HP-F practical, please contact the Coordinator, Prof. Ilse Hofmann (for contact see below), to discuss how your offer can be integrated to the program. We are always happy to welcome new active contributors!

In certain cases, teaching activities at the Bachelor level can also be honored by becoming a Major Cancer Biology faculty member.

Get in touch with us

A woman with short, blonde hair and glasses smiles warmly. She is dressed in a dark top and is in a bright environment, suggesting a professional setting. The focus is on her friendly expression.

Prof. Dr. Ilse Hofmann

Scientific Coordinator Major Cancer Biology

Eva Gundel

please direct all e-mail inquiries about the program to the Administration Office of Major Cancer Biology @ DKFZ

+49 6221 42 3401