Under terms of the MOU, the partners will share best-practice information in basic, translational and clinical research, support innovation in cancer research programs, establish a joint clinician and medical scientist program, and promote faculty, student and trainee exchange visits. Signing on behalf of the Princess Margaret, Dr. Mary Gospodarowicz, Medical Director, said: “Cancer is a growing health problem in the world. To achieve the best future outcomes requires concerted collaborations to accelerate progress.
“The partnership between DKFZ and the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre will provide an international platform for generating new ideas, exchanging information, and creating new opportunities in research and education with the ultimate goal of improving patient outcomes and conquering cancer.“
On behalf of DKFZ, Dr. Michael Baumann, Chairman and Scientific Director,
and Dr. Josef Puchta signed the memorandum. Baumann said: “The international leading research centers DKFZ and Princess Margaret Cancer Centre have many similarities that make this partnership a natural choice for establishing a transatlantic patient-oriented cancer research platform. “With joint bilateral research projects and a new international clinician and medical scientist program, the cooperation will be a powerful driver of innovative cancer research at a global level.“
Dr. Otmar Wiestler, President of the Helmholtz Association of national research centres of which DKFZ is a member, said both institutions perform cutting-edge research that contributes substantially to solving the grand challenges of cancer.
“In order to achieve our ambitious goals, we need to promote the best young talents,“ Dr. Wiestler said. “With the new partnership between our colleagues in Heidelberg and Toronto, we can develop a ground-breaking bi-national model to train the next generation of brilliant clinician and medical scientists. It will also establish a strong basis for cooperative projects in personalized oncology.“