What is your research focus and research expertise?

My working group focuses on the characterization of chromatin regulatory processes in the development and progression of pancreatic cancer (PDAC). PDAC is a devastating disease with a 5-year survival rate of not more than 10%. The dismal prognosis of PDAC is caused by a very aggressive tumor biology (rapid growth, early onset of metastasis etc.) and results from the ability of tumors to adapt to therapeutic intervention. Both features are triggered by the remarkable plasticity of the tumor cell-intrinsic and extrinsic (microenvironment) PDAC compartments. Chromatin-associated processes play a pivotal role in orchestrating adaptation processes, in mediating PDAC plasticity underlying transcriptional and cellular shifts and in dictating therapy response. By taking advantage of a plethora of murine and patient-derived cellular (primary cells, established lines, organoids) and in-vivo models (orthotopic syngeneic mouse models, Patient-Derived Xenograft models) we seek to understand the role of distinct chromatin-associated proteins on PDAC progression and therapy response at the mechanistic, functional and therapeutic level.

My entry in the pancreatic cancer research field was nothing more than lucky coincidence. I studied medicine at the Philipp´s University in Marburg. In my 6^th semester, I approached several people regarding an experimental thesis work. By chance, my later doctoral thesis supervisor and current boss Prof. Volker Ellenrieder replied to my email. We met and he immediately convinced me of the high clinical demand and the scientific potential of pancreatic cancer research. From then on, I enjoyed my experimental thesis work in the Ellenrieder group, which significantly shaped my later scientific focus, interest and way to approach scientific questions. Specifically, I worked on the mechanistic interaction of a transcription factor and a histone methyltransferase, Suv39H1, in pancreatic cancer. Based on my positive experiences during my MD thesis I decided for a scientific track upon my final Medical exam and continued working on chromatin regulatory proteins in pancreatic cancer.

Retrospectively, my further scientific career was shaped by three partially related, but very crucial developments. The first critical step was Volker Ellenrieder´s appointment as head of the Department of Gastroenterology, Gastrointestinal Oncology and Endocrinology at the UMG in 2014. Together with a hand-full of lab colleagues we shifted the lab from Marburg to Göttingen. Since the lab, literally, including its whole infrastructure, had to be built up from stretch, this time did not come without hurdles and setbacks and used to be a time with critical investments. However, this investment payed off, since I had the chance to develop my own scientific identity after just two years of postdoc experience.

The second important step shaping my scientific track was the appointment of a junior group leader position funded by the Ministry of Lower Saxony and the Volkswagenstiftung. With this, I was able to start my own independent research group in the collaborative cancer research environment of the UMG.

In 2017 and building on the growing structural and personnel developments in the local PDAC research field, we started drafting the concept for a Clinical Research Unit focusing on Genome Dynamics in Pancreatic Cancer. These efforts resulted in the approval of the Clinical Research Unit (KFO) 5002 by the DFG in 2020. The research consortium consists of nine projects focusing on different aspects of genome dynamics in pancreatic cancer progression and treatment and has a fantastic team of both early career and advanced scientists which significantly shape PDAC research activities in Göttingen and beyond. In the context of the KFO5002, I was appointed a professorship for Genome Dynamics in Pancreatic Cancer. Since the KFO5002´s commencement, its successful and collaborative progress at the scientific and technological level continues to be a key motivation for my work and I was very happy that we were allowed to continue the consortium´s activities for another four years upon successful external evaluation by the DFG.

How can translational research activities benefit from the CCC-N research structure?

Translational research activities can benefit from the CCC-N structure in multiple ways, e.g. at the technological level, in the joint use of complementary cancer models, core facilities etc. However, to me, the biggest advantage of the CCC-N are its people who contribute to the further development of basic cancer research up to its translation to the patient in multiple ways. Here, the CCC-N serves as a bracket for collaborative scientific work as well as for joint activities, e.g. the Cancer Club or symposia and scientific meetings organized by CCC-N members. These efforts do not only increase our visibility as a location with lively and compatible cancer research, but also help us to invest in sustained structures and initiatives which will hopefully help us continue our successful research in the future. One of these investments, though, is the Research Training Group 2978 (Understanding and Exploiting Adaptation to Therapy in Gastrointestinal Cancer) which was just recently approved by the DFG. It invests in the qualification of next-generation-scientists in GI cancer, is designed under the CCC-N umbrella and would not be possible without the CCC-N.

Can you tell us a little about your working group?

Currently, the lab consists of six people who are continuously affiliated with the lab (3 technicians, 1 postdoc, 2 PhD students). Additionally, there is a fluctuating number of Bachelor, Master and Medical Students who join the group for lab rotations and thesis. Hence, the group comprises all career stages from undergraduates up to postdocs. Moreover, the group´s composition is quiet interdisciplinary, since our students have different training backgrounds, e.g. Medicine, Molecular Medicine, Molecular Biology or Genome Sciences.

What is the biggest challenge in cancer research?

The biggest challenge (at least in pancreatic cancer) is i) its heterogeneity (from patient to patient and within the patient) and its frustratingly good ability to adapt to almost any kind of external pressure, including therapeutic pressure.

Find out more about Prof. Hessmann's working group on their website