Research Program
Research Program
Imaging and Radiooncology
Coordinator Prof. Dr. med. Dipl.-Phys. Heinz-Peter Schlemmer
The overarching goal of the research program “Imaging and Radiooncology” is to further improve personalized oncology by integrating state-of-the-art physical, chemical, molecular, biological, computational, and medical technological science. The divisions collaborate closely together and team up with clinical partners at the Heidelberg University Hospital, the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and Dresden, as well as with various national and international partners. Together, we carry out research across the spectrum from basic research to clinical application, with the aim of improving imaging and radiooncological methods for diagnosing and treating cancer. We are identifying novel biological targets/receptors that are overexpressed in tumors and that reflect the biodiversity and heterogeneity of tumors and are developing clinical applications based on these. Pharmaceutical research in the unit focuses on the development and clinical translation of theranostic radiopharmaceuticals for imaging (PET/CT, PET/MRI, SPECT/CT) and radioligand-assisted internal therapy of primary tumors and their metastases (endoradiotherapy). Research on personalized and adaptive radiotherapy in the unit covers the broad spectrum from basic research on radiobiology to the integration of spatial, temporal and biological information into radiotherapy planning and outcome analysis. With particular regard to image guidance, research covers e.g. ion beam therapy, direct ion-beam tracking via prompt-gamma spectroscopy and the investigation of MR-guided radiotherapy including the implementation of a new hybrid MRI-Linac system. For optimal use of the data and information available during patient care, an IT platform is being developed that builds on advances in surgical and radiological data science, such as image interpretation, holistic data processing and semantic modeling to integrate heterogeneous patient data including molecular characteristics and process data. The research program is actively involved in the design and implementation of an overarching data science strategy within the DKFZ and across its partners within NCT, DKTK, Cancer Core Europe and the Helmholtz Association.
Divisions
- Radiology Prof. Dr. med. Dipl.-Phys. Heinz-Peter Schlemmer
- Medical Physics in Radiology Prof. Dr. sc. techn. Mark E. Ladd
- X-Ray Imaging and Computed Tomography Prof. Dr. Marc Kachelrieß
- Radiopharmaceutical Chemistry Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Klaus Kopka
- Medical Physics in Radiation Oncology Prof. Dr. Oliver Jäkel
- Biomedical Physics in Radiation Oncology Prof. Dr. Joao Seco
- Computer Assisted Medical Interventions Prof. Dr. Lena Maier-Hein
- Radiooncology / Radiobiology Prof. Dr. Michael Baumann
- Medical Image Computing PD Dr. Klaus Maier-Hein
- Medical Informatics for Translational Oncology Prof. Dr. Frank Ückert
- Federated Information Systems Dr. Martin Lablans
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus (in ch.)
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Molecular Radiooncology Prof. Dr. Dr. Peter Huber (in ch.)
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Nuclear Medicine Prof. Dr. Uwe Haberkorn (in ch.)
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Translational Radiation Oncology M.D. Ph.D. Amir Abdollahi
Other Units and Groups
- Junior Research Group Medical Imaging and Radiology - Cancer Prevention PD Dr. Sebastian Bickelhaupt
- Junior Research Group Molecular Biology of Systemic Radiotherapy Dr. Martina Benesova
- Research Group Molecular Mechanisms of Head and Neck Tumors PD Dr. Jochen Heß