Björn Scheffler

Prof. Dr. Björn Scheffler is a leading researcher in translational neuro-oncology at the University of Duisburg-Essen (UDE), affiliated with the Medical Faculty and the West German Cancer Center (WTZ). His lab operates as an extramural division of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg under the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), emphasizing a strong bridge between basic research and clinical application.

His research focuses on human brain tumors, particularly glioblastoma, using stem cell biology and patient-derived models. Key areas include phenotypic plasticity of treatment-resistant cancer cells, the role of the immune system in cancer progression, development of novel anticancer therapeutics, and biomarker discovery for early-phase clinical trials. The lab fosters interdisciplinary collaboration with clinical neuro-oncology units at University Hospital Essen and national/international academic and industry partners.

The most recent publications highlight groundbreaking work in tumor-immune interactions, such as the discovery of cranioencephalic lymphoid units in glioblastoma and mechanisms of immune evasion. Other studies explore subclone dynamics, drug repurposing (e.g., niclosamide), and advanced 3D tumor modeling. Collectively, these works reflect a consistent trajectory toward understanding tumor heterogeneity, resistance mechanisms, and innovative therapeutic strategies in neuro-oncology.

• Helmholtz Doctoral Prize awarded to Dr. Celia Dobersalske, a researcher in Prof. Scheffler's group, for work published in Nature Medicine on skull bone immunity in brain tumors.
• Research has led to new insights into pseudoprogression in glioblastoma and melanoma brain metastases using advanced PET imaging techniques.

Prof. Scheffler mentors a dynamic team of clinician scientists, medical researchers, and students. His lab receives funding through DKFZ, DKTK, and national research programs, supporting a robust pipeline from bench to bedside. The team operates within a specialized research environment at the Zentrum für Molekulare Biomedizin (ZMB), equipped with advanced facilities for molecular and cellular oncology.