Graduate School Innovative Technologies in Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy
Since October 2020, the Hamburg Behörde für Wissenschaft, Forschung und Gleichstellung (BWFG) has been funding the graduate school (GS) "Innovative Technologies in Cancer Diagnostics and Therapy" as part of the Landesforschungsförderung (LFF) Hamburg.
Background
Cancer is one of the central health policy and societal challenges of the future. To meet these challenges, continued progress in cancer research is indispensable. This progress requires on the one hand the training of excellent young scientists, and on the other hand the continuous integration of innovative key technologies in cancer research. Through the cooperation of leading clinicians, natural scientists and engineers of the University of Hamburg (UHH) and the Technical University of Hamburg (TUHH) in the context of interdisciplinary PhD projects, both central requirements are now to be jointly implemented. The PhD projects will each be supervised by two complementary disciplines and carried out within the framework of a graduate school (GS) with the support of the University Cancer Center Hamburg (UCCH). The goal is to use cutting-edge technologies for the further development of cancer diagnostics and therapy. In addition, the GS is to contribute to the expansion of Hamburg's position as a place of outstanding cancer research.
Structure & Projects
This multi-center GS currently consists of 12 interdisciplinary research / PhD projects with scientists from 14 different research institutions of the UKE and the TUHH. Seven of these projects are funded directly by the GS, while five other projects were subsequently integrated into the GS.
Training and qualification
In addition to the scientific projects, one focus is on the training of excellently qualified young scientists in the field of cancer research. The doctoral training and qualification program includes GS-specific events as well as seminars on key qualifications, numerous interdisciplinary events and offers to learn various research methods. The integration of the GS into the UKE Academy of Biomedical and Health Research (ABHS) and the close connection to the UCCH Hamburg School of Oncology (see figure) is a great support.