Research funding

New research funding acquired

May 2026

The German Research Foundation (DFG) is funding the collaborative project between Prof. Anja K. Wege  (FHK at the UKR) and Prof. Richard Bauer  (MKG at the UKR).

The project is entitled "Addressing the  significance of the CD39-CD73 axis for the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma by a dual checkpoint inhibition". It aims to identify new dual therapies for patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and to evaluate new treatment options in vitro, ex vivo (patient material), and in the humanized tumor mouse model (HTM). The research focuses on investigating the combination of different checkpoint inhibitors (PD-1, LAG-3, TIM-3), or their combination with anti-CD73 antibodies, to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and enable an adequate immune response. The funding amounts to over € 0.5 mio, with each of the two research groups receiving 50% of the total cost.

Once again, HTM will be utilized for a therapy study.

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Research scholarship

June 2023

Dr. Christina Bruss has successfully received a research grant as part of the "Breast Cancer" funding program offered by Gilead Sciences GmbH. Title of the funded project:

"Immune checkpoint profiling of T lymphocytes – multiple checkpoints and their potential relevance in immunotherapy in breast cancer"

Funded project continuation

Jan 2023

The Wilhelm Sander Foundation is funding a project continuation (applicant: Prof. Dr. Gero Brockhoff, co-applicant: Prof. Dr. Anja K. Wege) with a new focus:

"Verification of the HER4 receptor as a predictive biomarker for the treatment of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer with tamoxifen and abemaciclib - preclinical in vitro and in vivo studies."

(Duration 1 year: 06/2023 - 06/2024)

Third-party funding

Jan 2021

 Prof. Dr. Gero Brockhoff,  together with Prof. Dr. Anja K. Wege (co-applicant) successfully applied at the Wilhelm Sander-Foundation for a third-party funding:

"Endocrine therapy with tamoxifen dependent on HER4 receptor expression - preclinical treatment studies in vitro and in vivo."

(Duration 2 years: 06/2021 - 06/2023)

Extensive project funding

2019 - 2023

Prof. Dr. Gero Brockhoff  and Prof. Dr. Anja K. Wege  have secured extensive project funding from the DFG (total funding > €0.5 million).

"Assessment of the impact of low dose solid tumor irradiation on tumor growth, metastases, immune cell activation, and subsequent immunotherapy in a humanized tumor mouse model"

Consortium project "Translational Oncology"

2015 - 2018

Brockhoff & Wege:   A research project within a consortium was funded by the German Cancer Aid:

"Evaluation of geno- and phenotypic alterations in Luminal B breast cancer using Humanized Tumor mice (HTM)"

Consortium project:

"Evaluation of new Diagnostic and Therapeutic strategies In high risk luminal Breast cancer (TransLUMINAL-B).(Fördersumme ges.: 2 Mio €)

Cooperation funding from the BFS

2013 - 2016

Brockhoff & Wege:  The Bavarian Research Foundation (BFS) funded a joint project with MABDiscovery GmbH (now IcanoMAB GmbH) and Agrobiogen GmbH:

"Generation and characterization of innovative, monoclonal anti-ErbB receptor antibodies (anti-ErbB mAbs) with increased therapeutic potential for antigen-specific tumor cell treatments/therapies."

(Project volume: ~1.2 million €, group funding volume 0.58 million €)