Clinical Trial Office

The Clinical Trial Office (CTO) supports excellent clinical research and the sustainable use of health data through customized solutions, efficient processes and close collaboration. We ensure the quality of clinical trials and enable responsible access to medical data for future scientific questions. With a clear focus on transparency and communication, we support innovative investigator-initiated trials (IITs) at the DKFZ.

A doctor in a white coat is seated at a desk, writing on a document with a pen. A stethoscope is draped around their neck. A laptop and an open book are nearby, while a clipboard holds additional paperwork.

The Clinical Trial Office (CTO) is a central facility of the DKFZ's scientific infrastructure dedicated to supporting and optimizing clinical trials and the use and provision of research data. Our mission is to drive scientific innovation through excellent research processes, ensuring the highest standards of quality, safety and efficiency. We offer tailor-made solutions that enable, optimize and secure the conduct of clinical trials and the secondary use of health data. The CTO is active at two renowned institutions - the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) - and works in close collaboration with research institutions, medical experts and external partners.

Within the CTO, three specialized working groups - the Clinical Trials (CT) working group, the Secondary Use of Data in Oncology (SUDO) working group and the NAKO Central Data Management (NAKO-ZDM) working group - work together to address the various facets of clinical and data-supported research.

Clinical Trials working group

The Clinical Trials working group aims to facilitate excellent Investigator Initiated Trials (IITs) that create a direct benefit for patients and society. It ensures that trials not only meet the highest scientific and regulatory standards, but are also implemented efficiently and sustainably. We offer comprehensive advice on all organizational, financial and regulatory aspects. In Sponsor Oversight, quality-assured processes ensure the integrity of clinical trials sponsored by the DKFZ and support a successful and smooth process throughout all phases. The CT WG is therefore a central point of contact for ensuring the quality and integrity of clinical trials and supporting their smooth implementation.

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Secondary Use of Data in Oncology working group

The SUDO working group is dedicated to the use and provision of medical data for research. Its mission is to promote the exchange of knowledge and drive the development of innovative approaches in cancer research through digital solutions and sustainable data infrastructures. To this end, the WG supports organizational units as well as researchers and physicians in the implementation of studies and projects. It designs and operates web-based portals for the submission of study synopses, develops IT structures for data protection-compliant secondary use and ensures that data is harmonized according to international standards and prepared for further scientific applications.

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NAKO-ZDM working group

The NAKO-ZDM working group provides the Integration Center of the NAKO Health Study, which plays a central role in the storage, processing and integration of data from one of the largest long-term population studies in Germany. With the aim of researching the causes of widespread diseases such as cancer, diabetes and heart attacks, the center collects and stores comprehensive study data from 200,000 participants from all over Germany. The WG develops and operates software solutions for efficient and standardized data collection and integration and implements procedures for quality control and assurance. It ensures that the data is available in the long term and supports its scientific use through close cooperation with other competence centers of the study. An interdisciplinary team ensures the continuous development of the software and IT infrastructures.

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Team

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    Dr. Julia Ritzerfeld

    Leitung CTO/ Clinical Trials

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    Dr. Tairi Aljand-Geschwill

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    Dr. Andrea Bischof

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    Nicolas Braun

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    Frank Diekhoff

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    Jan Diekhoff

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    Dr. Iris El Hindi

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    Franziska Fuhl

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    Bertin Nico Görlich

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    Jasmin Haubelt

    Teamassistenz

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    Dr. Ann-Cathrin Hofer

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    Dr. Alma Husedzinovic

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    Suncica Irsch

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    Regine John

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    Tobias Kahnis

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    Shaam Karym

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    Alexander Knurr

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    Christian Koch

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    Dr. Daniel Kraft

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    Dr. Victoria Le

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    Lana Raffaela Luft

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    Dr. Anna-Maria Maier

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    Dr. Juliane Melzer

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    Dr. Patrick Metzger

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    Dr. Bettina Neumann

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    Lena Oeser

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    Benjamin Roth

  • A man with curly hair and glasses is looking directly at the camera. He is wearing a checked shirt with blue and red tones over a gray shirt. The background is plain white, providing a clear view of his facial expression.

    Dr. Mirko Rösner

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    Dr. Beatrix Tettmann

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    Dr. Anna Zdyb

Get in touch with us

Employee image

Dr. Julia Ritzerfeld

Head of CTO/AG Clinical Trials
A middle-aged man with light brown hair and blue eyes is smiling gently at the camera. He is wearing a checkered shirt and is positioned in a well-lit setting, suggesting a professional atmosphere.

Alexander Knurr

Leitung AG SUDO
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