Two Scientists from Heidelberg University Hospital receive the German Cancer Prize 2026
This prize, awarded by the German Cancer Society and the German Cancer Foundation, is one of the highest honours in oncology and is presented annually in four categories.
The director of the Skin Tumor Center at Heidelberg University Hospital and the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Professor Dr. Jessica Hassel, is the award winner in the “Clinical Research” category. Professor Dr. Dr. Felix Sahm, of the Department of Neuropathology at Heidelberg University Hospital and a researcher at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), is being honored in the “Translational Research” category.
As a dermatologist, Professor Hassel is successfully dedicated to developing new treatment approaches for patients with advanced skin cancer and to promoting patient-centered care in dermato-oncology. Together with her team, she has conducted internationally recognized studies on immunotherapy and combination therapies for advanced melanoma, paving the way for the clinical application of these new treatments.
Neuropathologist Professor Sahm specializes in meningiomas, tumors of the meninges. Together with his team, he has developed a meningioma classification system and identified numerous new subtypes of these tumors. This allows for a more precise classification than is possible based solely on histological tissue assessment—a prerequisite for tailored treatment approaches.
“The work of Professor Hassel and Professor Sahm impressively demonstrates how scientific excellence and patient-centered research come together in Heidelberg. Through their studies, both have made a decisive contribution to the advancement of diagnostics and treatment for severe forms of cancer,” said Professor Dr. Michael Boutros, Dean of the Heidelberg Faculty of Medicine at Heidelberg University.
A video series provides insight into the range of oncological treatments offered at Heidelberg University Hospital
Today's focus: National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg
What special function does the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg have? What is an interdisciplinary tumor board? Why is it worth coming to Heidelberg if you are diagnosed with a tumor?
This video provides answers to these and other questions.