Strategic Alliance in Radiological Diagnostics and Therapy
A new quality of collaboration between research and industry
The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and Siemens are entering into a strategic alliance to combine their joint expertise in the area of oncological radiology. The cooperation is aimed at improving and combining diagnostic imaging technologies such as magnetic resonance imaging in such a way as to provide a new quality of imaging information about tumors for radiotherapy planning. Each of the partners will invest more than 20 million EUR into this alliance over the next six years. As a partnership on equal terms between a corporation and a research center, it has worldwide model character.
The collaboration is centered around the refinement and optimization of imaging technologies as a prerequisite for improved precision in diagnostics and therapy planning. DKFZ and Siemens have committed themselves to utilizing and further developing existing possibilites of radiation physics in order to enable clinicians to determine the location, size and spread of a tumor (staging) more precisely and to better assess its biological agressiveness, i.e. growth and tendency to metastasize (grading). More precise findings obtained by imaging technologies serve as a basis for individualized treatments which maximize benefits for the patient while minimizing side effects.
Siemens will contribute their latest systems to the alliance, including a 7 Tesla magnetic resonance imaging (7T MRI) system, which promises a whole new dimension of temporal and spatial resolution down to the single-molecule level. This offers new possibilities of capturing a tumor’s location, size, structure, blood vessel supply and metabolism in great detail. Compared to the 1.5 Tesla field strength commonly applied, High-Field MRI yields yet another considerable information gain. With a field strength of 7 Tesla, the ratio between actual signal and unspecific noise (signal-to-noise ratio) is better. This information gain can be used for better image quality, shorter measuring times or more images per unit of time.
"With the strategic alliance starting today, the long standing collaboration between DKFZ and Siemens is raised to a new level," emphasizes Professor Dr. Erich R. Reinhardt, CEO and President of Siemens Medical Solutions and Member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG. "Together, we are working on novel and promising methods to help improve the quality of care, particularly in oncology, and reduce costs at the same time. In doing so, we are always focusing on the patient."
The German Cancer Research Center will provide its scientific know-how to Siemens. In return, DKFZ scientists will have access to the latest instrument generations and will be able to further develop the software and hardware components of these instruments in a continuous process. Thanks to DKFZ’s close affiliation with the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, current clinical questions can be investigated swiftly with optimum personnel and technical resources. Thus, new findings can rapidly be transferred to clinical application – a concern which is very important to DKFZ’s Scientific Director, Professor Dr. Otmar D. Wiestler.
"Our goal is to secure a leading position for the German Cancer Research Center in cancer diagnostics, early detection and treatment," declared Wiestler at today’s press conference in Berlin. "In the area of oncological radiology, we are already excellently positioned: Interdisciplinary cooperation among medics, biologists and physicists in basic research with traditionally close links to clinical practice has yielded remarkable achievements in diagnostics and therapy. The strategic partnership with Siemens now provides us with additional valuable assets to tackle the challenges lying ahead."
Siemens Medical Solutions (Med) is one of the largest suppliers to the healthcare industry in the world. The company is known for its innovative products, complete solutions and comprehensive consulting and support services, ranging from imaging systems for diagnosis and treatment, to electromedicine and audiological products, to IT solutions. Solutions from Med enable customers to achieve tangible clinical, operational and financial outcomes (Proven Outcomes). Innovations from Siemens optimize workflow in hospitals and doctors’ offices and increase efficiency in the delivery of care. Employing approximately 33,000 people worldwide and operating in 120 countries, Siemens Medical Solutions reported sales of 7.6 billion EUR, orders of 8.6 billion EUR and group profit of 1 billion EUR for fiscal 2005 (September 30).
The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is one of the leaders in research on oncology imaging diagnostics and therapy planning in the world. Siemens is one of the world’s most renowned suppliers of medical technologies in this area. The alliance of the two partners builds on long years of close and very successful relations.
With more than 3,000 employees, the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is Germany’s largest biomedical research institute. DKFZ scientists identify cancer risk factors, investigate how cancer progresses and develop new cancer prevention strategies. They are also developing new methods to diagnose tumors more precisely and treat cancer patients more successfully. The DKFZ's Cancer Information Service (KID) provides patients, interested citizens and experts with individual answers to questions relating to cancer.
To transfer promising approaches from cancer research to the clinic and thus improve the prognosis of cancer patients, the DKFZ cooperates with excellent research institutions and university hospitals throughout Germany:
The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Württemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.
