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German Cancer Research Center

Logo: Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons4

National cancer research center in Heidelberg, Germany

The German Cancer Research Center (known as the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum or simply DKFZ in German) is a national cancer research center based in Heidelberg, Germany. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, the largest scientific organization in Germany.2 Its revenue was €319 million in 2020.1 It is part of Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.1 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1964Founded1
  • Industryhospitals and rehabilitation, research1
  • HeadquartersHeidelberg, Germany1
  • Websitewww.dkfz.de/de/index.html
  • Legal formpublic foundation1
  • Kind of organizationFoundation1
  • LEI96760090F5YU3KTUQ3123
  • StatusActive3
  • LEI statusIssued and current3
  • Registered addressIm Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany3
  • Registered withAdministrative Region Karlsruhe3

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Heidelberg DKFZ Neuenheimer Feld 20120501
Photo: Rudolf Stricker, Attribution, via Wikimedia Commons6

The German Cancer Research Center (known as the Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum or simply DKFZ in German) is a national cancer research center based in Heidelberg, Germany. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres, the largest scientific organization in Germany.2

Corporate structure

German Cancer Research Center sits at the top of its group. 2 entities, 1 country on record. Switch between the flow chart and the network, and select any entity to see its details.

  • German Cancer Research Center Heidelberg, Germany
    • Heidelberger Institut für Radioonkologie Subsidiary · Heidelberg, Germany

Built from parent and subsidiary links from GLEIF, the Global Legal Entity Identifier Foundation (CC0); subsidiaries, stakes and holdings from Wikidata (CC0). Each entity in the chart links to its source.

The story

The establishment of a national cancer research center in Germany was initiated by Heidelberg surgeon Karl Heinrich Bauer. The DKFZ was set up in 1964 by resolution of the State government of Baden-Württemberg as a foundation under public law. In 1975, the Center became a member of the Association of National Research Centers ("Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Großforschungseinrichtungen") which was transformed into the Hermann von Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers in 1995. The Center has also been a member of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) since 1977.

Two scientists to date that were affiliated with the DKFZ have received Nobel Prizes. The first was Harald zur Hausen who won the 2008 Nobel Prize in Medicine for his work in the discovery of the human papillomavirus, which causes cervical cancer. The second was Stefan Hell, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for his pioneering work in the field of ultra high resolution fluorescence microscopy.

From Wikipedia’s article on German Cancer Research Center, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Leadership

Who has led German Cancer Research Center, and when. Pick a name to see everywhere that person has worked.

Board members and other officers (1)

Products and brands

Research

Cancer research at DKFZ is structured in six Research Programs (as of 2022)

Cell Biology and Tumor Biology

Functional and Structural Genomics

Cancer Risk Factors and Prevention

Read the full text

Immunology and Cancer

Imaging and Radiooncology

Infection, Inflammation and Cancer

DKFZ maintains an interdisciplinary structured graduate school known as the Helmholtz International Graduate School for Cancer Research. The school offers an in-house international M.Sc. program in "Molecular Biosciences" with a major in "Cancer Biology". As well as international Ph.D. program, postdoctoral fellowships and a clinician scientist program.

Cooperation with other partners

A result of the successful cooperation of the German Cancer Research Center with other partners is the first new building for "The National Center for Tumor Diseases" (NCT) in Heidelberg. The project was commissioned by the German Cancer Aid with 29 Million Euro, as it was officially announced at the opening celebration on 2 November 2010, with Germany's Minister of Health, Philipp Roesler (Berlin). The modern new building is located on the campus of Heidelberg University Hospitals. The NCT is a joint project of Heidelberg University Hospitals, Thorax Clinic Heidelberg, the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) and the German Cancer Aid, founded by the late "First Lady", Mildred Scheel. "NCT's new building offers ideal conditions for translating current research results into clinical practice," said Otmar Wiestler, DKFZ's Scientific Director, at the opening. "Its two strong partners, the German Cancer Research Center and Heidelberg University Hospitals, provide the best basis for this."

The German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) is a joint long-term initiative involving the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), participating in German states and the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ). It was established as one of six German Health Research Centers (DZGs) in October 2012. More than 950 researchers work within the DKTK, along with support staff. Around 350 of them are employed via the DKFZ. An important task of the DKTK is promoting the next generation of researchers in the field of translational cancer research. For this reason, around 20 percent of all DKTK employees are postgraduate students. The DKTK is financed via an institutional funding model. Since 2014, the DKTK's annual budget has been EUR 27.8 million (90/10 financing). The total budget for the first research period (2012–2015) was EUR 80.5 million.

From Wikipedia’s article on German Cancer Research Center, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.5

Subsidiaries and ownership

Parent company

  • Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space
  • Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres

Subsidiaries

  • Heidelberger Institut für Radioonkologie

From Wikidata.1

Revenue over time

As stated on Wikidata, in the currency reported.

Revenue

  • 2020319.0M EUR1

Timeline

  1. 1964Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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