More than one million euros for young scientists
Research college at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg enables young physicians to receive advanced training as cancer researchers / Funded by the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation
When does the immune system fight cancer cells and when does it not? How can the body's own immune system be stimulated to attack tumors? Scientists worldwide are investigating these questions in the field of tumor immunology. Since 2017, a research college at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg has been enabling young physicians to enter this field of research. The Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation has now agreed to support the college for a further three years with a total of 1.2 million euros.
In the new funding period, seven physicians will each be accepted into the research college "Excellent Clinician Scientists in Freiburg - Education for Leadership: Immunological Causes and Therapies of Cancer" (EXCEL) for three years. They are temporarily released from clinical duties and carry out their own research projects in the field of tumor immunology. "With the research college, we enable young physicians to pursue a sustainable academic career at the interface between clinical practice and research," says Prof. Dr. Heike Pahl, spokesperson of the research college and section head in the Department of Medicine I (Specialties: Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation) at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.
Interdisciplinary research
The members of the research college work together with a wide range of specialist areas from the outset and thus benefit more quickly from new research findings. "Joining forces in this way accelerates research and ultimately benefits our patients," says co-spokesperson Prof. Dr. Robert Thimme, Medical Director of the Department of Medicine II (specializing in gastroenterology, hepatology, endocrinology and infectiology) at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. The Department of Medicine I and II, the Department of General and Visceral Surgery, the Department of General Pediatrics, the Department of Radiation Oncology, the Department of Dermatology and Venereology and the Comprehensive Cancer Center Freiburg - CCCF are involved at the Medical Center University of Freiburg. The Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics in Freiburg is also involved in a project.
Closely integrated into scientific structures
When approving the extension, the reviewers praised the excellent integration of the research college into the clinical-scientific structures and the scientific environment in Freiburg. In particular, EXCEL is very well integrated into other junior researcher funding programs such as the Faculty of Medicine's Berta Ottenstein Program for researching physicians and specialists, the IMM-PACT Clinician Scientist Program for immunological research projects and the MOTI-VATE doctoral program. "We are very fortunate to be able to offer interested young scientists freedom and academic mentoring at the highest level at all stages of their early academic training," says Prof. Thimme.
The foundation
The Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation was established by Else Kröner in 1983. She bequeathed her entire estate to the foundation in her will. The charitable foundation is dedicated to promoting clinically-oriented biomedical research and supporting medical-humanitarian aid projects.
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Heike L. Pahl
Head of the Molecular Hematology Section
Department of Medicine I
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-63400
heike.pahl@uniklinik-freiburg.de
Prof. Dr. Robert Thimme
Medical Director
Department of Medicine II
Medical Center - University of Freiburg
Phone: 0761 270-34030
robert.thimme@uniklinik-freiburg.de
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