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Joint Press Release from NCT Heidelberg and Mannheim University Medical Center

The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg and the Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC) are receiving joint funding as a Center of Excellence in Oncology for the first time. German Cancer Aid is providing 4.8 million euros over four years for the new consortium.

The NCT Heidelberg and the MCC have formed a Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) consortium and have successfully passed the international review process for the first time. In addition to providing optimal oncological care for its patients, the consortium aims to make innovative developments in cancer medicine available in the region as quickly as possible. For this reason, clinical trials will play a prominent role within the consortium. To this end, the Heidelberg-Mannheim CCC consortium will receive 4.8 million euros in funding from German Cancer Aid over a four-year period as a Center of Excellence in Oncology.

The NCT Heidelberg has thus been continuously recognized and funded as a Center of Excellence in Oncology since 2007. The Mannheim Cancer Center has been certified as an Oncology Center by the German Cancer Society since 2011 and is now receiving recognition as a Center of Excellence in Oncology for the first time. Partners in the Heidelberg-Mannheim CCC Consortium include Heidelberg University Hospital (UKHD), the Heidelberg Thorax Clinic, the Heidelberg and Mannheim medical faculties of Heidelberg University, Mannheim University Medical Center (UMM), and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). The Heidelberg-Mannheim CCC Consortium represents an important step in the successful collaboration within the Heidelberg and Mannheim hospital network.

Dirk Jäger, Medical Director of the Department of Medical Oncology at UKHD, Executive Director of the NCT Heidelberg, and Spokesperson for the Heidelberg-Mannheim CCC Consortium, says: “We are pleased to expand the Center of Excellence in Oncology to include Mannheim. The merger to form the Heidelberg-Mannheim CCC Consortium opens up the prospect of strengthening clinical research in particular, becoming a more attractive site for clinical trials, and offering even more patients the opportunity to benefit from innovative research.”

Wolf–Karsten Hofmann, Director of the Department of Hematology and Oncology at Mannheim University Medical Center (UMM) and Chairman of the Board of the Mannheim Cancer Center, says: “The initial recognition of the Heidelberg-Mannheim CCC Consortium as a Center of Excellence in Oncology demonstrates that we provide oncology care at the highest level at both locations. Through this partnership, the University Hospitals of Heidelberg and Mannheim are growing ever closer together, and we will continue to develop jointly as a Comprehensive Cancer Center.”

As a Center of Excellence in Oncology, the Heidelberg-Mannheim CCC Consortium provides interdisciplinary care for cancer patients at the highest level. The goal is to rapidly translate promising results from basic research into clinical applications. The Heidelberg-Mannheim CCC Consortium will work to jointly advance clinical research, incorporate even more innovative approaches into clinical trials, and accelerate the clinical development of these approaches. This merger will make both locations more attractive to industry partners. The consortium will strengthen its network with medical institutions and physicians in the region, thereby providing all patients in the region with access to cutting-edge medical care.

Press contact:

Dr. Martin Staiger
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
Communications and Events
Im Neuenheimer Feld 460
69120 Heidelberg, Germany
Tel.: +49 6221 56-311272
Email: martin.staiger(at)nct-heidelberg.de
www.nct-heidelberg.de
 

Dr. Eva Maria Wellnitz
University Medical Center Mannheim (UMM)
Heidelberg University’s Mannheim Medical Faculty
Mannheim Cancer Center (MCC)
Theodor-Kutzer-Ufer 1-3
68167 Mannheim
Phone: +49 621 383 71115
Email: eva.wellnitz(at)medma.uni-heidelberg.de

The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg

The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), the University Hospital Heidelberg (UKHD), the Heidelberg Medical Faculty of the Heidelberg University and the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg. The aim of the NCT Heidelberg is to transfer promising approaches from cancer research into clinical practice as quickly as possible, and thus to benefit patients. This applies to both diagnosis and treatment, in aftercare or prevention. Participation in clinical studies opens up access to innovative therapies. The NCT Heidelberg is thus a leader in transferring new research results from the laboratory to the clinic The NCT Heidelberg, founded in 2004, is part of the NCT with further locations in Berlin, Dresden, SouthWest (Tübingen-Stuttgart/Ulm), WERA (Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, Augsburg) and West (Essen/Cologne).

German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)

With more than 3,500 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:

• National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT, 6 sites)  
• German Cancer Consortium (DKTK, 8 sites)
• Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ) Heidelberg
• Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology (HI-TRON Mainz) - A Helmholtz Institute of the DKFZ
• DKFZ-Hector Cancer Institute at the University Medical Center Mannheim
• National Cancer Prevention Center (jointly with German Cancer Aid) 

The DKFZ is 90 percent financed by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and 10 percent by the state of Baden-Württemberg. The DKFZ is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centers.