Primary Cancer Prevention

Prof. Dr. Ute Mons heads the Division of Primary Cancer Prevention. She was previously Professor of Cardiovascular Epidemiology of Ageing at the University of Cologne. Prior to that, she held several positions at the DKFZ, in the Cancer Prevention Unit and in the Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research. Ute Mons is a sociologist, epidemiologist and public health scientist.

The Primary Prevention Group is concerned with the investigation of potentially modifiable cancer risk factors and the development and evaluation of strategies and measures to reduce the prevalence of these cancer risk factors in the population. For example, we investigate which factors influence behavioral cancer risk factors at the individual level and what impact this has at the population level. Simulation models are used to estimate the long-term potential of prevention measures.

In addition, the Primary Prevention Group develops and evaluates approaches to cancer prevention which are specifically tailored to the reduction of cancer risk factors in certain target groups or environments, or which are personalized to individual risk profiles.

Dr. Petra Schrotz-King heads the Prevention Studies Group in the Division of Primary Cancer Prevention, which focuses on cancer risk factors, early detection of cancer and the translation of research results into the population. Previously, she worked at the Medical Faculty Mannheim at the University of Heidelberg, as scientific director (CSO) at ACE Biosciences in Denmark and as assistant professor at the University of Southern Denmark, Odense.

The multidisciplinary team establishes population-based prevention studies. These aim to detect cancer and its precursors earlier using evidence-based data, e.g., information on cancer risk factors and biomarker analyses, for example from blood or stool samples, through innovative research approaches in the laboratory or by calculating risk profiles, and to prevent them through targeted personalized offers to the population.

One example of this is the discovery and evaluation of new early detection tests and their implementation in the healthcare system. In addition, the integration of samples and data creates a platform for national and international collaboration in a wide range of research areas and thus the prerequisite for the effective use of study resources, a strengthening of networks in prevention research, as well as the translation of research results in the form of personalized prevention offers to the population.

The studies are made possible by the committed study participants (each individual is important) and by committed practices and clinics.

Mahdi Fallah, MD, PhD, leads the Risk Adapted Prevention (RAD) Group within the Division of Primary Cancer Prevention. He holds a visiting professorship at the Department of Clinical Sciences, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden. Previously, he served as Professor of Medicine (Epidemiology) at the University of Bergen, Norway, and Adjunct Professor at the Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Switzerland. His research is dedicated to risk-adapted cancer prevention.

The Risk Adapted Prevention (RAD) Group focuses on identifying individuals at elevated risk for common cancers, including prostate, breast, and colorectal cancer, to optimize screening strategies for them. Their primary objective is to develop and validate robust risk-adapted models that determine the optimal starting age and screening interval for cancer screening. These models will incorporate a comprehensive range of individual risk factors, including family history of cancer, personal medical history, medication use, race/ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and other relevant factors. The disparities in cancer incidence and mortality across different racial and ethnic groups are acknowledged by incorporating factors that may disproportionately affect certain populations. By tailoring screening recommendations to specific patient populations, the RAD Group aims to significantly enhance cancer prevention and early detection in a risk-adapted (personalized), equitable, and cost-effective manner.