Cancer research and treatment under one roof

NCT-Heidelberg: Center for Cancer Treatment

Cancer research and cancer therapies under one roof: NCT-Heidelberg: Center for cancer treatment and research opened.

Medicine and research under one roof. The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) was opened in Heidelberg today. The German Cancer Aid had pre-financed the new building with 29 million euros in order to combine cancer medicine and cancer research in one location. „Our goal is for cancer patients to be treated in an interdisciplinary manner and according to the latest medical and scientific findings“, stressed Hans-Peter Krämer, CEO of the German Cancer Aid at the opening ceremony.

Cancer research and cancer treatment under one roof
The NCT is the first institution in Germany that unites all areas of cancer research, diagnosis and treatment under the umbrella of the American model of the Comprehensive Cancer Centers. The facility was initiated in 2004 by the Heidelberg University Hospital and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). Shortly thereafter, the German Cancer Aid and the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg joined the cooperation. So far, the NCT was housed in a temporary abode on the grounds of the University Hospital, but from today all areas of cancer research and the interdisciplinary medical patient care in a specially constructed for this new building under one roof. About the completion of the new building was also Professor. Christof von Kalle, spokesman for the NCT Board of Directors: „The patients and staff of the NCT are deeply grateful to the German Cancer Aid and to the architects that, after five years of intensive development of the center, a patient-friendly, communicative and inviting environment is now available“.

New standards in cancer medicine
This institution is "exemplary for the supply of cancer patients at the highest level," said the Federal Minister of Health Philipp Rösler (FDP) at the official ceremony for the opening of the 29 million euro expensive new building. The close collaboration between medicine and research enables new promising research results to be transferred directly into clinical practice, according to the hope of the initiators of the project. „The new construction of the NCT offers (...) the ideal framework to transfer current research results to the clinic“, For example, Professor Dr. Otmar Wiestler, Chairman of the DKFZ.

This should set the NCT new standards in cancer research and treatment. In addition, the nature of the patient care is a significant advantage over conventional facilities. The cancer patients have an interdisciplinary team of physicians available on-site to examine and treat them without the need for a long way for those affected.

5,000 cancer patients annually
The experts expect around 5,000 patients to visit the NCT for treatment for the first time each year. The motto „Everything under one roof "does not only refer to the direct diagnosis, treatment and research in the field of cancer medicine, but also offers psychological counseling, nutrition and social counseling as well as an extensive sports program to the patients on site Cancer physicians, sports scientists and physiotherapists also the influence of exercise, strength and relaxation on the quality of life and the disease course in cancer patients, to take into account with the establishment of the NCT and cancer prevention. (Fp, 02.11.2010)

The National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg is a joint institution of the German Cancer Research Center, the University Hospital Heidelberg, the Thorax Clinic Heidelberg and the German Cancer Aid. The aim of the NCT is to link promising approaches from cancer research with the care of patients from diagnosis to treatment, follow-up and prevention. The interdisciplinary tumor outpatient clinic is the heart of the NCT. Here, the patients benefit from an individual therapy plan, which is created by interdisciplinary expert panels, the so-called tumor boards, in a timely manner. Participation in clinical trials provides access to innovative therapies. The NCT is thus a trend-setting platform for the transfer of new research results from the laboratory to the clinic.

The NCT closely interlinks interdisciplinary medical patient care and innovative cancer research. Promising research results can be rapidly translated into clinical practice. The NCT is supported by the Heidelberg University Hospital, the Thoraxklinik Heidelberg, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and the German Cancer Aid. The German Cancer Aid is the owner of the new building for the NCT, which is located on the campus of the University Hospital Heidelberg.