The newly founded Division of CAYA (Children, Adolescents and Young Adults) Cancer Survivorship Research is led by Dr Cécile M. Ronckers. The Division is associated with the National Cancer Prevention Center and the Hopp Children’s Cancer Center Heidelberg.
Treatment for cancer in early life, including Children and AYAs (adolescents and young adults), can affect many different aspects of growing up and the later course of life.
The work of the Division includes national and international observational research into somatic and other late effects among long-term survivors of CAYA cancer, building on existing and new collaborations, and capitalizing on innovative cross-discipline research opportunities at DKFZ, the Heidelberg campus, and beyond.
This includes classic retrospective studies addressing impact of cancer treatment across the full life-span as well as prospective approaches to study effects of new treatments. A data-infrastructure/registry is envisioned to support integration of clinical, epidemiological, molecular, and future intervention research. Moreover, the division supports the set-up and gradual expansion of survivorship care structures for pediatric and AYA cancer survivors, also involving scientific evaluation and addressing policy aspects.
In line with previous work, and where feasible, our work is guided by concepts of international standardization and harmonization.
With regard to somatic late effects, long-standing research lines on subsequent tumors and on late effects of early-life medical radiation exposures (diagnostic and therapeutic) will be further pursued.
The Division is financially supported by the Dietmar Hopp Foundation.
