DKTK Retreat 2016: Atmospheric start into a new research period

More than 260 researchers from the DKTK’s locations came together at the DKFZ site in Heidelberg to discuss the latest research findings in the area of clinically oriented cancer research. The two-day program focused on the consortium’s multicenter clinical trials and clinically oriented research projects, the results of which were shared during presentations and in the evening poster session. 

Researchers also had the opportunity to vote for the best posters produced by the DKTK School of Oncology Fellows. Desiree Schneider (Medical Center, University of Freiburg) convinced the jury with her poster on the epigenetic impact of RNAi in acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Dr. Apostolos Menegakis (University of Tübingen) was awarded for his poster on the impact of the histone variant γH2AX on radiation sensitivity in prostate cancer patients. The third prize went to Dr. Stephanie Rössler (University Heidelberg) for her poster on two novel tumor suppressor genes and their role in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The three prize winners, were presented with a travel voucher worth 1000 euros to be used to attend an international conference.

Participants were very interested in the strategic perspectives for the consortium’s five main research pillars, which were presented by the program coordinators, along with the results of this year’s appraisal. The international assessors’ committee described the work of the consortium in the field of translational cancer research as ‘outstanding’ and ‘unique in Europe’.

These were good grounds for celebration, as Professor Michael Boutros, who led the steering committee that oversaw the months of preparations for the appraisal, explains:  “In the past five years at the DKFZ, we have succeeded – along with the university clinics and research institutes at our seven partner sites – in creating new structures, concepts and technology platforms for clinically oriented cancer research. The DKTK has become the key driving force in the field of translational cancer research in Germany and we are delighted that the appraisal has confirmed this fact.”

This year was the fourth time the annual DKTK retreat has been held. “It is a wonderful opportunity to come together and find out about developments in the research areas and new activities at the DKTK,” says Katja Engelmann, Scientific Coordinator of the DKTK, who organized the retreat. “We can clearly see how the DKTK has grown together over the past few years and has become a consortium that left the assessors with ‘overwhelmingly positive impressions’.”

Members of the DKTK can find more pictures on the Intranet.