Research Profile

Based on TU Dresden's research profile, which ranges from groundbreaking basic research to application-oriented projects with high transfer relevance, research at the Faculty of Medicine is embedded into the area of excellence “Principles of Life. Transforming Health Care”. The areas of excellence represent the currently strongest research fields of our University, which are characterized by publication impact and third-party funds.

The research profile of the Faculty of Medicine Dresden Carl Gustav Carus (MF-TUD) has developed from a broad spectrum of smaller research projects to three impressive research focuses.

These key areas are:

• Oncological Diseases - Our passion lies in exploring cancer diseases to discover innovative approaches in cancer therapy.
• Metabolic Diseases - We are committed to a better understanding and combating the impact of metabolic diseases, especially diabetes.
• Neurological & Mental Health Disorders - Research into neurological and psychological diseases is a cornerstone of our mission to promote the well-being of people.

In these key areas, Dresden University Medicine has developed exceptional performance in both research and patient care. We have achieved a critical mass that enables a seamless connection between basic research and clinical application.

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The success of our strategic orientation, which is supported by both MF-TUD and Dresden University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, is reflected in our collaboration with the German Centers for Health Research. We are proud to have successfully acquired sites of the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK) as well as the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), the German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the German Center for Child and Adolescent Health (DZKJ).

Our three key areas are complemented by four highly interconnected clusters, highlighting our interdisciplinary approach and passion for pioneering research. Welcome to the exciting world of Dresden University Medicine, where research and innovation go hand in hand to promote the health and well-being of our society.

Some of our recent and most exciting large-scale research projects at MF-TUD (31.12.2024):

SaxoCell (living drugs) - A BMBF-funded cluster for future that aims to develop novel gene and cell therapeutics for a broader application of this complex form of therapy in various areas of medicine.

LiSyM (Liver Systems Medicine. Phase II - DEEP-HCC) - A BMFTR-funded collaborative project focusing on early-stage liver cancer with the aim of identifying novel blood and imaging biomarkers and potential targets for early detection and prevention.

SaxoCHILD (German Center for Child and Adolescent Health - start-up funding Leipzig/Dresden site) comprises BMFTR-funded structural measures aimed at improving the long-term healthy development of children and adolescents, with research priorities in obesity, metabolism, immunity, and psychosocial and mental health.

SFB/TRR 369 (DIONE - Degeneration of bone induced by inflammation) - A DFG-funded collaborative project with the aim of providing new insights into the mechanisms and therapeutic approaches to ameliorate inflammatory bone loss.

SFB/TRR 393 (Trajectories of Affective Disorders: Cognitive-emotional Mechanisms of Symptom Change) - A DFG-funded collaborative project with the goal to identify the triggers for new episodes, to determine cognitive-emotional mechanisms and neurobiological correlates of symptom changes, and to probe mechanism-based therapies. 

Reinhart Koselleck-Projekt (Exploring long-term epigenetic silencing modules to advance the potential of therapeutic gene editing) - This DFG-funded research project aims to develop safe therapeutic interventions and improve targeted gene regulation in various pathological conditions.

RESOLVE (Residual disease assessment in hematologic malignancies to improve patient-relevant outcomes across Europe) - An EU-funded collaborative project that brings together experts and patient-representative partnerships to validate the predictive value of minimal residual disease in patients with acute myeloid or chronic lymphocytic leukemia and take a further step towards personalized precision medicine.

NADIR (New directions for deep learning in cancer research through concept explainability and virtual experimentation) - The aim of this ERC project is to develop new approaches to understanding tumors by combining clinical methods, artificial intelligence and deep learning in order to enable new therapeutic strategies.

GreenPharming (From biopharming to circular economy: climate-neutral active ingredient production) - This project, funded by the SMWK and the EU, aims to make pharmaceutical production more resource-efficient, sustainable and therefore more environmentally friendly. Biopharmaceutical active ingredients such as antibodies and cytokines are to be produced from renewable raw materials in a closed, climate-friendly system.

Key areas (As of: December 31, 2024):

Interconnected cluster (As of: December 31, 2024):

Third-party funding income of the Faculty of Medicine Carl Gustav Carus: 

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Note: The Transparency Act requires institutions such as TU Dresden to disclose third-party funding providers. In order to avoid bureaucratic effort and at the same time ensure legal certainty with regard to transparency, disclosure is made on the TUD website.