Christoph Plass

Christoph Plass is a Professor at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in the Department of Epigenomics and Cancer Risk Factors. His career spans roles in epigenetic research and cancer genetics, with significant contributions to understanding DNA methylation, enhancer hijacking, and epigenetic therapies in hematological malignancies.

• High School in Emsdetten, Germany (1980)
• Study of Biology, Free University Berlin (1982-1987)
• PhD, Medical University Luebeck, Germany (1988-1993)

His research focuses on epigenetic mechanisms in cancer, particularly DNA methylation, chromatin dynamics, and transcriptional regulation. Key areas include acute myeloid leukemia (AML), T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), regulatory T cells, and epigenetic vulnerabilities in cancer progression.

Recent publications highlight integrative approaches in epigenomic profiling for leukemia subtyping, enhancer hijacking in AML, and single-cell analysis of tumor microenvironment interactions. His work bridges genomic instability, immune response modulation, and therapeutic strategies.

• Leukemia Lymphoma Society of America Scholar (2002-2007)
• V-Foundation Translational Award (2002-2005)
• Honorary Faculty of the Mirrors Honors Society (2003)
• Elected Fellow, AAAS (2005)
• Barbara J. Bonner Chair in Lung Cancer (2006-present)
• Stohlman Scholar, Leukemia Lymphoma Society (2007)
• Tsungming Tu Award by Taiwanese Science Council (2016)

Plass leads the DKFZ department dedicated to epigenomic alterations in cancer. His career includes academic appointments at The Ohio State University and Roswell Park Cancer Institute, with a focus on translational research linking epigenetic changes to cancer risk and therapy.