Deutsche Krebshilfe has extended its funding for the Mildred Scheel Young Investigator Center (MSNZ) in Dresden by an additional two years

The Mildred Scheel Young Investigator Center, funded by the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe, DKH), has been supporting the career development of physician-scientists and researchers in the field of cancer research in Dresden and at four other university locations since 2018. The German Cancer Aid is now extending its funding for this successful program by another two years and is providing €3.2 million for the Dresden site. With this renewed funding commitment, the successful early-career support in oncology at the Dresden location will be sustainably strengthened and consistently continued.

Prof. Dr. med. Martin Bornhäuser and Prof. Dr. Frank Buchholz expressed their delight at the extension of the funding: The MSNZ Dresden has established itself as an excellent platform for the targeted promotion of outstanding young physicians and scientists during the previous funding period. In the future, it will continue to support innovative, interdisciplinary research approaches that combine clinically relevant questions with the most modern methods from basic research, translational oncology, cell therapy, and artificial intelligence.

The MSNZ P2 program is based on a coordinated funding concept that addresses different career stages of early-career researchers and enables a close integration of clinical and basic research. In addition to clearly structured research periods, the program supports targeted career development measures, curricular training opportunities, and an individual mentoring concept for MSNZ Fellows.

The extension of the funding will allow the established structures to be further consolidated, successful projects to be expanded, and new, forward-looking research initiatives to be launched. The combination of structured early-career support, excellent research infrastructure, and close links to clinical issues significantly contributes to further profiling Dresden as a leading center for innovative cancer research. The MSNZ also represents an important structural funding measure that, together with other early-career programs, has made a significant contribution to the establishment of the Dresden School of Clinical Science at the Dresden site.

As Prof. Dr. med. Bornhäuser emphasizes: "With the renewed support from the German Cancer Aid, the MSNZ Dresden can sustainably strengthen oncological early-career support and continue to set the course for the long-term development of innovative research approaches that will contribute to improving patient care in the future."

Prof. Dr. Buchholz adds: "The follow-up funding also confirms the success of the early-career support to date: Several MSNZ Fellows have been able to take up high-profile positions at national and international locations during or after their funding period. The individualized support for MSNZ Fellow research groups has proven to be an effective tool for career development and the sustainable continuation of scientific careers."

Contact details:
Prof. Dr. med. Martin Bornhäuser (Speaker MSNZ P² Dresden)
Prof. Dr. Frank Buchholz (Speaker MSNZ P² Dresden)

Medizinische Fakultät Carl Gustav Carus, TU Dresden
Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus
Fetscherstr. 74
01307 Dresden

Tel: 0351/463-40277