Research Dialogue – Science Up Close

Cancer is the second most common cause of death in Germany. Nevertheless, almost 90 percent of those affected do not die from primary tumors in the breast, lungs or intestines, but from metastases that spread throughout the body. New therapies can already prolong life, but cancer cells often develop resistance to drugs. In the "Research Dialogue", we provide insights into research at the Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM in Regensburg. We show how liquid biopsies from a single cell can be used to record the properties of disseminated cancer cells in real time - for example, information about brain metastases from cerebrospinal fluid. With this better understanding, individual therapies can be better adapted to the specific characteristics of patients.

Based on insights into clinical practice at the University Hospital Regensburg and the work of the Clinical Ethics Committee, we would like to discuss with you how these new findings can contribute to improving patient care.

Welcome/closing remarks:

• Gertrud Maltz-Schwarzfischer, Mayor of the City of Regensburg
• Wolfgang Siegel, Administrative Managing Director acatech
• Ingrid Breitenberger, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft

Podium:

• PD Dr. Bernhard Polzer, Fraunhofer Institute for Toxicology and Experimental Medicine ITEM
• Prof. Dr. Tobias Pukrop, University Hospital Regensburg; Head of Oncology, Head of the Center for Translational Oncology, Interdisciplinary Day Clinic for Tumor Therapy (ICT)
• Prof. Dr. Rupert M. Scheule, University of Regensburg; Member of the Clinical Ethics Committee UKR

Moderation:

• Dr. Mareike Berger, acatech Office

Further dates in the "Research Dialog" series

• July 15 in Nuremberg with the Fraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits IIS
  Title: "Generative AI for the economy - using language models in the cloud and locally"
  
  
• October 7 in Valley / Holzkirchen with the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics IBP
  Title: "Building on knowledge - innovations for the building and renovation of the future"
  
  
• December 9 in Bayreuth with the Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation IPA and the Fraunhofer Institute for Applied Information Technology FIT
  Title: "Twin Transformation: A sustainable and digital future in industry"