Cancer Prevention
Our mission is to develop new strategies to reduce cancer risk factors in the population, optimize their implementation and evaluate their effectiveness.
Our Research
Our interdisciplinary team is particularly dedicated to the development and evaluation of innovative strategies to reduce cancer risk factors in the population. Our research is embedded in the National Cancer Prevention Center. In our work, we focus on three central approaches:
Population-based approaches: Here we investigate how population-based interventions, such as policy measures or health campaigns, influence the behavior of individuals and impact public health. We use simulation models to evaluate the preventive potential of population-based interventions in relation to cancer risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol consumption.
Targeted approaches: We develop and test innovative concepts that are tailored to specific target groups or settings. We also aim to better integrate prevention services into the healthcare system, for example through low-threshold behavioral support.
Personalized approaches: Our research aims to precisely identify individual risk profiles and develop risk-adapted or personalized prevention strategies. Such approaches can be offered in cooperation with the prevention outpatient clinic of the National Cancer Prevention Center, to reduce the individual risk of cancer.
With a strong focus on the actual implementation of measures, we aim to bring scientific findings into practice faster. Our goal is to establish effective, evidence-based prevention strategies that sustainably prevent cancer and promote population health. Our research combines scientific excellence with practical and political relevance to generate research data and evidence that can serve as a basis for political decision-making.
Our studies
GEKKO Study
The GEKKO Study is a broad-range scientific study being performed at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg in cooperation with gastroenterology practices in the Rhine-Neckar district and associated clinics, such as the Department of Surgery, the Breast Center and the "Thoraxklinik".
The aim of the study is to discover and evaluate novel early diagnostic tests for even earlier recognition of cancer and its precursors, since the chances of cure for most cancer types are very much better, when the disease is recognized early.
DARIO Study
The DARIO Study is a large-scale scientific study being conducted at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg in collaboration with the Interdisciplinary Endoscopy Center Heidelberg (IEZ) at the Medical Clinic in Heidelberg.
The main objective of the study is to discover and evaluate new screening tests that can detect cancer and its precursors earlier, especially in young adults in the age group 50-54.
LEO Study
The LEO Study is a large-scale scientific study conducted by the Department of Preventive Oncology at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg together with the Interdisciplinary Endoscopy Center Heidelberg (IEZ) of the Department of Medicine at Heidelberg University Hospital.
The main objective of the study is to discover and evaluate new screening tests that can detect colorectal cancer and its precursors earlier, especially in young adults in the age group 30-49.
More information about further studies, our team, the working groups and publications can be found here on the website of the DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center).
Contact
Secretary's Office
Angelika Bergmann
Phone: +49 6221 56-35783
Fax: +49 6221 56-5231
E-mail: angelika.bergmann(at)nct-heidelberg.de