Volker Mall

Prof. Volker Mall is a Professor at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) within the TUM School of Medicine and Health. He holds a professorship in Social Pediatrics and has previously served as a professor in pediatric neurology at Dresden (2011) before joining TUM in 2012. His research focuses on psychosocial and biological factors influencing child and adolescent development, particularly developmental disorders such as cerebral palsy, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and neurofibromatosis. He pioneered a screening tool for psychosocial stress in pediatric care and employs transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to study neurobiological mechanisms of developmental disorders. Prof. Mall also contributed to establishing the Competence Center for Early Intervention and Child Protection in Freiburg.

Education and Career:

• Studied medicine at the University of Freiburg
• Completed residency in pediatrics with a focus on pediatric neurology
• Served as a senior consultant and led the child protection team in Freiburg
• Organized national and international conferences for professional societies in social pediatrics and neuropediatrics

Research Interests: Prof. Mall’s work integrates clinical and neuroscientific approaches to understand developmental disorders. His studies emphasize interdisciplinary collaboration, combining behavioral assessments with neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques like TMS. Key themes include the psychosocial impact of trauma on children, neuroplasticity in mobility disorders, and early intervention strategies for at-risk populations.

Publications: His recent work addresses PTSD in refugee children, neuroplasticity mechanisms in cerebral palsy, and the therapeutic potential of exercise-based interventions. These studies highlight translational research bridging clinical practice and basic neuroscience.

Awards:

• American Academy of Cerebral Palsy MacKeith Press Award (2007)

Advising and Collaborations: While no advisees are explicitly listed, Prof. Mall has initiated collaborative projects such as the “Focus on Cerebral Palsy” conference series and contributed to policy initiatives through child protection programs. He is actively involved in organizing academic conferences and mentoring early-career researchers.

Labs and Teams: His work is anchored in the TUM School of Medicine’s clinical and research infrastructure, with ongoing projects at the Competence Center for Early Intervention and Child Protection, which he co-founded in Freiburg.