One of the most renowned cancer researchers in the world will be visiting the Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research (HZI): On Monday, 25 November, Prof Harald zur Hausen will be discussing research findings with fellow scientists from the HZI.
Zur Hausen was awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine in 2008 for his research on infection-related tumour development. Between 1983 and 2003, he served as chairman of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ); since 2010, he is the vice president of the European Academy of Cancer.
“We are happy to welcome such a successful and internationally renowned researcher as Harald zur Hausen here,” says Prof Dirk Heinz, Scientific Director of the HZI. “His findings have revolutionized the prevention and treatment of various types of cancer. At the HZI, we investigate the relationship between chronic infections and cancer which is why we are highly interested in the exchange with such an outstanding expert.”
Zur Hausen was among the first researchers who recognized the connection between infections with human papillomavirus (HPV) and the development of cervical cancer in the 1970ies. Some years later, he was able to detect the virus-types HPV 16 and HPV 18 in diseased tissue from cervical tumors for the first time.
The findings of zur Hausen and his coworkers laid the grounds for the development of vaccines against cervical cancer. This long-standing vision of science became reality in 2006 when the first two vaccines against HPV-infections were released.
Interested representatives of the press will get the opportunity to talk to Prof zur Hausen at 16.15. Please notify the Public Relations Department of the HZI in advance.
(Contact: Dr Jan Grabowski, phone: 0531-6181-1407, email: presse(at)helmholtz-hzi.de)
