RTG 2978: Understanding and Exploiting Adaptation to Therapy in Gastrointestinal Cancer
Our Motivation
Treatment failure remains a major hurdle for a significant improvement in the prognosis of patients suffering from liver- (HCC), biliary- (BTC), pancreatic- (PDAC) and colorectal (CRC) cancer. These gastrointestinal (GI) tumor entities harbor a tremendous tumor cell intrinsic- and extrinsic potential to adapt to therapy-induced stresses. We hypothesize that understanding and exploiting adaptation to therapy will provide novel rational treatment strategies to combat GI cancer.
Our Approach
Our DFG-funded Research Training Group (RTG) 2978 provides a structured research- and qualification program tailored to therapy-induced adaptation processes in GI cancer which is accessible for PhD and MD candidates at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Lower Saxony (UMG/MHH).
Within their graduation projects, RTG 2978 trainees combine GI cancer-patient-related research questions with in-depth mechanistic studies to understand and exploit therapy-induced adaptation processes.
The research program is flanked by an innovative qualification program tailored to the scientific and methodological spectrum of the research projects and the individual interests and needs of the RTG trainees. RTG 2978 measures and activities promoting (international) networking, interdisciplinarity, and career support as well as a multi-layered supervision and mentoring concept complement the research- and training program.
How to Become a Member
Are you interested in joining the RTG2978 for your experimental medical thesis? We offer 12 MD thesis projects in labs in Göttingen and Hanover. We will provide an interdisciplinary team, direct supervision by PhD trainees of the RTG, a fellowship for the time of your leave semester, and the chance to perform parts of your experimental work in labs abroad. Start is October 2026.
There will be information events for interested students at the following dates:
- Göttingen: February 5, 11am in Großer Hörsaal, Humboldtallee 23
- Hanover: March 2, 10am in Hörsaal D
News
Recent Publications:
Upcoming Talks:
13.04.2026: Christian Braun und Julia Jellusova: Dealing with Stress: From B Cell Homeostasis to Cancer Vulnerabilities (joint event with the CCC-N Cancer Club & KFO5002)
27.04.2026: Florian Greten: Title tbd (joint event with the CCC-N Cancer Club)
30.06.2026 Dan Billadeau: Title tbd (joint event with the CCC-N Cancer Club & KFO5002)
Contact
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 3962616
- e-mail address: elisabeth.hessmann(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
contact information
- telephone: +49 511 5329590
- e-mail address: Saborowski.Anna(at)mh-hannover.de
contact information
- telephone: +49 551 3964154
- e-mail address: alexander.mueller(at)med.uni-goettingen.de
contact information
- telephone: +49 511 53231630
- e-mail address: uhlenbruck.baerbel(at)mh-hannover.de
Funded by
