NCT expansion to six sites sealed by ministers

This is a historic step for clinical-translational cancer research in Germany: the NCT is expanding its presence from two to six sites. In addition to Heidelberg and Dresden, the sites in Berlin, Südwest (Tübingen, Stuttgart, Ulm), WERA (Würzburg, Erlangen, Regensburg, Augsburg) and West (Essen and Küln) have now been added. Bettina Stark-Watzinger, Federal Minister of Education and Research, acknowledged the importance of this step at a celebratory launch event in Heidelberg on 24 November 2023: "Cancer remains one of the greatest challenges facing modern medicine. Our strongest tool against this is excellent research. By expanding the National Centre for Tumour Diseases to six sites, we want to achieve a breakthrough in personalised cancer research and cancer medicine in equal measure. So that the diagnosis of incurable cancer will soon no longer exist. The NCT combines excellent research with high-calibre care under one roof. Here, patients receive rapid access to innovative therapeutic approaches. They are involved as research partners from the very beginning. In addition, patient representatives have been involved in the development of a research structure for the first time ever. In this way, we are creating something unique with the NCT that will change cancer research in the long term for the benefit of patients.

Prof. Dr Dr h. c. Michael Baumann, Spokesperson of the NCT Steering Committee and Chairman of the Board of Directors and Scientific Director of the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), said: "This expansion strengthens our capacity to bring the latest advances in cancer research to patients more quickly. The NCT is thus decisively expanding its important role in the development of innovative cancer therapies.“

Prof. Dr Michael Hallek from NCT West, also spokesperson of the NCT Steering Committee, emphasised the regional impact of the expansion: "The proximity to patients in various federal states enables us to adapt care even better to individual needs. This is an important step towards personalised cancer therapy.

Rudolf Hauke, spokesperson of the NCT Patient Research Council, said: "We welcome the expansion of the NCT as a step towards even greater integration of the patient perspective in cancer research and patient care. This integration is crucial for the further development of clinical trials and thus benefits us patients.

Press release of the "NCT - National Center for Tumour Diseases" from 24.11.2023