Dieter Saur

Prof. Dieter Saur is a Professor of Translational Tumor Research at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) and Head of the Department at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). His research focuses on developing personalized cancer therapies through mechanistic studies of tumor-relevant genetic alterations, with a particular emphasis on pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers.

Education: Studied medicine at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich, earned a doctorate in neurogastroenterology, completed specialist training in gastroenterology and gastrointestinal oncology, and habilitation in internal medicine. He became a senior physician at University Hospital rechts der Isar before his current roles at TUM and DKFZ.

Research Interests: Translational cancer research, genetic drivers of tumor progression, early detection methods, and targeted therapies for pancreatic and gastrointestinal cancers. He uses genetically engineered mouse models and organoid systems to study tumor heterogeneity and therapeutic resistance.

Awards: Recipient of prestigious grants like the ERC Consolidator Grant (2015) and awards such as the Martin Wienbeck Award (2014) and Rising Star Award (2006). His work bridges basic science and clinical translation, emphasizing interdisciplinary approaches.

Labs/Teams: Leads the Translational Tumor Research group at TUM and collaborates with the DKFZ to advance preclinical and clinical cancer research. Key projects include exploring KRAS signaling pathways, tumor microenvironment dynamics, and immune checkpoint therapies.