Feb 12, 2026
New care models and research for children with cancer: Dresden launches pioneering projects in Saxony
The so-called courage beads accompany pediatric oncology patients through the difficult period of examinations, procedures, and therapies. Each bead represents a special moment or a challenge that has been overcome, giving the children recognition, strength, and confidence.
On the occasion of International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD) on February 15, the Pediatric Oncology Center at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden is drawing attention to two new, pioneering care projects that have been launched in Saxony. The goal is to enable children and adolescents with cancer, as well as their families, to access to the best possible university-level care regardless of where they live.
Cancer in children and adolescents is rare, accounting for around 0.5 percent of all cancer cases, but it is particularly significant due to the long-life expectancy and possible long-term consequences. In addition to the medical burden, frequent visits to pediatric oncology centers, long commutes, and organizational challenges place a considerable additional strain on many families.
The Pediatric Oncology Center at NCT/UCC Dresden, led by Prof. Denis Schewe, is one of the centers for pediatric oncology certified by the German Cancer Society. All pediatric hematology and oncology diseases are treated here, as well as stem cell transplants and modern cell therapies are performed. Around 100 children and adolescents with newly diagnosed cancers are treated at the center each year; the catchment area extends from East Saxony through parts of southern Brandenburg to the Vogtland region.
“Children with cancer and their families face major medical and emotional challenges. That is why we need care structures that consistently align with the everyday lives of those affected,” says Prof. Denis Schewe. That is why we need care structures that consistently align with the everyday lives of those affected,” says Prof. Denis Schewe.
Digital and mobile care for all of Saxony
With the Ped-Onko-SAX project, the development of a digital care platform for children with cancer in Saxony began on January 1, 2026. The platform is intended to enable telemedicine, home-based diagnostics, continuous medical and neuropsychological monitoring, and low-threshold self-management. The aim is to provide university-level care regardless of place of residence while at the same time reducing commute times and thus the burden on families. A particular focus is on actively involving patients and their families. Project partners are the Clinic for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Dresden University Hospital, MedicalSyn GmbH, and Sonnenstrahl e. V. Dresden. Ped-Onko-SAX is funded as part of the ERDF program “Innovative Approaches in the Health and Care Economy” 2021–2027.
In addition, Dresden researchers are developing an innovative concept for local, community-based care through health services research with the project “KOMNET-SAX – Pediatric Oncology Mobile Network.” Since December 2025, the concept phase has been funded by the Innovation Fund of the Federal Joint Committee. Project partners include the pediatric oncology departments in Chemnitz and Cottbus, the Evangelical University of Applied Sciences Dresden, Magdeburg University Medicine, pro:med GmbH, as well as the health insurance providers Techniker Krankenkasse, BARMER, and IKK classic. A core component of the concept are home visits by specially qualified nursing staff, known as Advanced Practice Nurses (APNs). “With the support of these highly specialized and well-trained professionals, we want to partially replace outpatient or day-clinic on-site visits with home visits,” explains Prof. Schewe. This approach is intended to reduce costs while simultaneously improving the quality of life of the children. “We plan to submit the full proposal for this project in June,” he adds. The requested funding volume amounts to around six million euros over four years.
Prof. Denis Schewe with colleagues during ward rounds in the pediatric oncology ward.
Therapy research: Less toxicity, same effectiveness
Alongside health services research, the development of new therapies is a central focus at NCT/UCC Dresden. Leukemias account for almost 30 percent of all cancers in children. Although around 90 percent of affected children can now be cured, the therapies are often associated with severe long-term side effects such as neurocognitive impairments, growth disorders, and heart problems.
Research therefore focuses on innovative, more targeted treatment strategies, particularly for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). These include antibody-based therapies, targeted drug combinations, and precision medicine approaches. Using functional genomics, including CRISPR-based screenings, molecular targets are identified and mechanisms of resistance and relapse are investigated.
“Our goal is to effectively cure children with leukemia without causing long-term harm through highly toxic therapies,” says Schewe. “I would like to see children with leukemia receiving only half as much chemotherapy in ten years' time as they do today, and I hope we will find new treatment options that can also be used for other types of cancer in children.”
“Progress in pediatric oncology is inconceivable without strong interdisciplinary research,” emphasizes Prof. Esther Troost, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at TU Dresden and Director of the Department of Radiation Therapy and Radio-Oncology. “As a radiation oncologist, I am regularly in contact with children with cancer and their families, particularly in the context of the proton therapy offered in Dresden. It is important to continue developing therapies that are not only effective but also place as little long-term burden as possible on young patients.” It is essential to continue developing therapies that are not only effective but also place as little long-term burden as possible on young patients.”
Prof. Uwe Platzbecker, Medical Director of Dresden University Hospital and an expert in hematological diseases, also underscores the importance of the research location: “Especially in childhood leukemias, scientific innovations over recent decades have enabled enormous progress. The decisive step now is to consistently translate new, targeted therapeutic approaches into clinical practice.”
Research contact:
Prof. Denis Schewe
Professor of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, specializing in Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Head of the Pediatric Oncology Center,
Head of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology
Email:
Pediatric Oncology Center: www.ukdd.de/kio
Media contact:
Anne-Stephanie Vetter
Staff Unit Public Relations of the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine of TUD Dresden University of Technology
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden
Tel.: +49 351 458 17903
Email:
www.tu-dresden.de/med