Dirk Schadendorf

Dirk Schadendorf is a Professor and Chair of Dermatology at the University Hospital Essen, part of the University of Duisburg-Essen. He is the Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center (West German Tumor Center, WTZ) and Founding Director of the Research Center One Health within the University Alliance Ruhr. His roles include managing the West German Tumor Center Network and leading the Clinic for Dermatology at Essen. Schadendorf holds positions in national and international oncology organizations, including leadership roles in the German Cancer Society and the European Melanoma Registry.

Education: MD from the University of Hamburg (1980-1986), followed by postdoctoral training at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (1986-1989) and the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Genetics (1989). His career includes leadership in dermatological oncology at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) from 1997-2008.

Research focuses on melanoma and skin cancer biology, tumor immunology, targeted therapies, and translational research. His work emphasizes therapy resistance and biomarkers. Key contributions include clinical trials evaluating immunotherapies like nivolumab and pembrolizumab in melanoma and Merkel cell carcinoma.

Awards include the 2021 Fleur-Hiege Gedächtnispreis and 2018 Wilhelm-Warner Preis. He has coordinated major research initiatives, including EU Horizon programs and national tumor registries. Schadendorf is a highly cited researcher in clinical medicine since 2017.

Grants and leadership roles span national/international collaborations, such as the German Skin Cancer Registry and the European Melanoma Registry. His work bridges clinical and translational research, with a focus on improving cancer patient outcomes through innovative therapies and biomarker development.