Andreas Zimprich Foundation - German Cancer Research Center

Supporting brain tumor research

Andreas Zimprich died of a brain tumor at the age of 48. His parents Marianne and Egon Zimprich founded the Andreas Zimprich Foundation in his memory together with the German Cancer Research Center.

The founders from Heilbronn want to promote research in the field of neuro-oncology: Patients with glioma should have a better chance of successful treatment than their son in the future. The foundation has been committed to researching innovative therapies for brain tumors since 2010.

An elderly couple stands together in front of vibrant pink flowers. The man wears a blue cardigan and smiles, while the woman, in a brown sweater and scarf, looks warmly at the camera. They both appear happy and content in a sunny garden setting. — Marianne and Egon Zimprich

Support brain tumor research: With a donation to the Andreas Zimprich Foundation, you can promote the development of new treatment methods. You can also support the Andreas Zimprich Foundation by making an endowment. Please contact us if you would like to do this.

Donation account of the Andreas Zimprich Foundation

IBAN: DE74 6205 0000 0000 2286 86 | BIC: HEISDE66XXX

Your contact person

Mareike Nebel

Office of Development
German Cancer Research Center

+49 6221 42-2848
spende(at)dkfz.de

The Treuhand Foundation honors young researchers

Since 2015, the foundation has awarded the Andreas Zimprich Prize for an outstanding medical doctoral thesis in the field of neuro-oncology. The prize money is financed by donations to the foundation and income from the foundation's capital. The prize is awarded every two years and is endowed with 2,500 euros.

Dr. Christopher Krämer, a resident in the Department of Anesthesiology at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE), has been awarded the 2025 Andreas Zimprich Prize. He was honored for his dissertation, “Development and microenvironment-guided optimization of personalized immunotherapeutic strategies in brain tumors,” which he completed in 2025 with the distinction of summa cum laude.

A young man with light brown hair and glasses smiles confidently. He wears a dark blazer over a light blue shirt. The background is plain and neutral, emphasizing his friendly demeanor, likely reflecting professionalism and approachability. — Dr. David Hausmann works as a doctor in the Neurology Clinic at Heidelberg University Hospital.

David Hausmann, winner of the 2023 prize, researched calcium communication in the cellular networks of glioblastoma in his dissertation. This revealed well-connected pacemaker cells whose targeted inhibition with a drug already approved for humans slowed brain tumor growth in the mouse model and may represent a novel therapeutic option against glioblastomas.

A woman with shoulder-length blonde hair stands smiling while holding a certificate in her right hand. She is dressed in a light-colored blazer over a white shirt. The image conveys her achievement, as she is a recipient of the Andreas Zimprich Award for 2021. — Dr. Milena Pertz with the award for the Andreas Zimprich Prize 2021.

Dr. Milena Pertz, neuropsychologist at the Department of Neurology at the University Hospital Knappschaftskrankenhaus Bochum, was awarded the Andreas Zimprich Prize 2021 for her dissertation "Assessment of cognitive and sociocognitive functions after diagnosis and therapy of a primary brain tumor", which was completed with top marks in mid-2021 at the Ruhr University Bochum.

A smiling young man with short brown hair and glasses is wearing a dark blue collared shirt. The background is neutral and plain, emphasizing his friendly expression. — The award winner Dr. Erik Jung was honored for his achievements in the research field of neuro-oncology.

Erik Jung was awarded the Andreas Zimprich Prize 2019. The prizewinner works as a doctor in the Department of Neurology at Heidelberg University Hospital and as a scientist specializing in glioma biology at the German Cancer Research Center. In his dissertation, Erik Jung investigated novel therapeutic approaches to malignant gliomas and was thus able to contribute to further research into brain tumors in the spirit of the Andreas Zimprich Foundation.

A group of five people, including one holding a baby, stands together smiling while displaying various awards and certificates. The setting appears to be a formal event, with large windows in the background. The image highlights the importance of recognition in their field. — Christoph Geisenberger (left) at the presentation of the Andreas Zimprich Prize at the DKFZ.

In 2017, the Andreas Zimprich Prize went to Christoph Geisenberger. He received the award for his research into the biological properties of glioblastomas that are associated with long-term survival. He carried out his work at the Neurosurgery Clinic at Heidelberg University Hospital.

The photo shows the 2017 prizewinner (left) together with other award-winning scientists at the award ceremony at the German Cancer Research Center.

Lukas Bunse was honored for the development of a vaccine against brain tumors.

The first prize winner was Lukas Bunse, physician and scientist in the Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology at the DKFZ and Heidelberg University Hospital. In his doctoral thesis, Lukas Bunse worked on the development of a vaccine against brain tumors.

The photo shows the 2015 award winner (center) together with the DKFZ Scientific Director Prof. Michael Boutros (far left), the laudator Prof. Wolfgang Wick (second from right) and the brother and father (far right) of the foundation's namesake.

Trustee: German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg
Prof. Dr. Michael Baumann, Scientific Director,
Shalini Saxena, Administrative Director (interim)
Registered office: Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Tel. 06221 42-2860, Fax 06221 42-2840
Tax no. 32489 / 31552, Heidelberg tax office
Board of Trustees of the Andreas Zimprich Foundation: Prof. Dr. Wolfgang Wick, Dr. Rolf Zimmermann, Heidelberg; Prof. Dr. Daniel Zimprich, Ulm