Prof. Cindy Franklin takes over as Director of the Skin Cancer Center at University Hospital Dresden

In July, Prof. Cindy Franklin assumed the W3 professorship in dermato-oncology at the Carl Gustav Carus Medical Faculty of Dresden University of Technology. She also serves as Senior Attending Physician at the Department of Dermatology at the University Hospital Dresden. In this capacity, she heads the University Skin Cancer Center (UHTC). During a transitional phase, Prof. Franklin is sharing this role with Prof. Friedegund Meier to ensure a smooth handover of clinical, scientific, and organizational responsibilities. Prof. Franklin will subsequently assume sole leadership of the center.

"With Prof. Franklin, Dresden is gaining an internationally renowned scientist and experienced clinician. Her expertise in clinical care and research will strengthen the field of dermato-oncology at Dresden University Hospital, the NCT/UCC, and the University Skin Cancer Center" says Prof. Uwe Platzbecker, Chief Medical Officer at University Hospital Dresden. "Prof. Cindy Franklin is providing an important impetus for the close integration of interdisciplinary patient care, translational research, and innovative therapeutic approaches," adds Prof. Esther Troost, Dean of the TUD Faculty of Medicine.

Prof. Franklin is moving to Dresden from the University Hospital of Cologne. There, she led the Skin Tumor Center and the Department of Dermato-Oncology. She is an internationally recognized expert on malignant melanoma. Her research focuses on translational tumor immunology, particularly investigating the role of myeloid immune cells in the tumor microenvironment and developing immuno-oncology therapies to treat patients with melanoma and brain metastases. In 2023, she received the German Skin Cancer Prize for her pioneering work in developing treatments for brain metastases in melanoma patients.

Dresden University Skin Cancer Center (UHTC)

As a center certified by the German Cancer Society, the UHTC brings together all the necessary expertise for diagnosing, treating, and providing follow-up care for malignant skin tumors. Last year, 1,773 patients were diagnosed with a new skin tumor at the UTHC. In most cases, the tumor was surgically removed during an inpatient stay. A total of 2,059 patients received treatment during specialized oncology consultations. The interdisciplinary skin tumor board is the heart of the center. Here, experts in dermatology, dermatosurgery, oncology, pathology, radiology, radiation therapy, and other fields collaborate to create personalized treatment plans. The therapeutic spectrum ranges from tissue-sparing surgeries to modern immunotherapies and targeted therapies, as well as access to clinical trials. Of the 658 tumor board cases in 2025, 192 were external. As part of the National Center for Tumor Diseases Dresden (NCT/UCC), the UHTC offers certified quality care, cutting-edge interdisciplinary medicine, and early access to new therapeutic approaches.

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