معرفی
Prof. Klaus Schulze-Osthoff serves as Director and Chair of the Department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Tübingen, Germany, a position he has held since 2008. He maintains dual affiliation as a Research Fellow at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg since 2012 and acts as Spokesperson for the German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK) at the Tübingen Partner Site. Previously, he directed the Institute of Molecular Medicine at the University of Düsseldorf (2001-2008) and served as Scientific Director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center in Tübingen (2009-2013).
His research spans critical areas in molecular oncology with particular emphasis on:
- Inflammation and cancer interactions
- Novel biomarkers for therapy efficacy and resistance
- Translational cancer research bridging basic science and clinical applications
- Tumor immunology mechanisms
- Tumor cell senescence as antitumor mechanism
- Apoptosis and cell death pathways
Analysis of his publication history reveals a clear research trajectory: foundational work (1990s) establishing mitochondrial roles in apoptosis and caspase functions, followed by therapeutic applications (2000s) demonstrating caspase relevance in cancer treatment, and recent focus (2010s) on tumor cell senescence mechanisms including the identification of novel NF-κB co-activators and development of the world's first senescence PET tracer for clinical imaging.
His scientific leadership has been recognized through:
- Steering committee membership at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (2021-present)
- Board membership in Cluster of Excellence IFIT (2019-present)
- Multiple Research Grant Awards from German Cancer Aid Foundation (2016, 2005, 2002)
- German University Medical Innovation Award (2008)
- Scientific advisory roles for pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer
His research program has successfully translated basic discoveries into clinical applications, particularly through biomarker development for therapy monitoring and the creation of novel imaging techniques. He has secured sustained funding from major German research foundations and maintains active collaborations across European research institutions. His laboratory continues to investigate molecular mechanisms of tumor cell senescence and apoptosis with direct relevance to cancer therapy development.
The Molecular Medicine Department he leads at Tübingen focuses on translating fundamental discoveries into clinical applications, with particular expertise in developing diagnostic tools like the senescence PET tracer currently in patient trials, and identifying novel therapeutic targets in tumor immunology and cell death pathways.
