Renowned cancer researcher becomes senior professor at Magdeburg University Hospital
Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Fischer continues to research and teach at the Faculty of Medicine Magdeburg after his retirement
Research instead of retirement: Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Fischer will take up the first senior professorship at the Medical Faculty of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg for the next three years. The renowned cancer researcher and former Director of the University Clinic for Haematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy Magdeburg is thus continuing his pioneering research in the field of malignant blood diseases and remains intensively committed to promoting young scientists.
"I am looking forward to continuing to contribute to the scientific development of the Faculty of Medicine in an exciting and forward-looking area," explains the 66-year-old. "Working as a doctor and dealing with seriously ill patients as well as mentoring young doctors have always been important to me. This mixture and the constant search for what is still undiscovered in medicine motivate me to remain active in research."
Photo: Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Fischer is the first senior professor at the Faculty of Medicine at Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg.Photographer: Melitta Schubert/University Medicine Magdeburg
As part of his senior professorship, he will head a research group at the University Clinic for Haematology, Oncology and Cell Therapy in Magdeburg. He will focus in particular on the molecular causes of excessive inflammatory reactions - also known as cytokine storms - and the development of thrombosis in certain forms of blood cancer.
Prof. Dr. Daniela C. Dieterich, Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, emphasizes: "Professor Fischer's tireless commitment and his impressive successes in research and teaching are a great role model for our students and staff. We are therefore all the more pleased that we can continue to work closely with him."
"Despite major advances in cancer therapy, there are still many unresolved questions.I am therefore very pleased that Professor Fischer will continue to work with us on new approaches to diagnostics and therapy," emphasizes Prof. Dr. Dimitrios Mougiakakos enthusiastically. He succeeded Professor Fischer in Magdeburg as the new Clinic Director and Chair in 2021.
Prof. Fischer was appointed to the University of Magdeburg 15 years ago, having already been acting head of the Department of Haematology and Oncology Magdeburg since 2008.Since then, Professor Fischer has played a key role in shaping the Faculty of Medicine and University Medicine Magdeburg. With his support, allogeneic stem cell transplantation was established as a special form of immunotherapy for patients with malignant blood diseases. Thanks to his efforts, Magdeburg University Hospital was successfully certified as an oncology center in July 2020. He also initiated an application for a Comprehensive Cancer Center in collaboration with Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin and the University Hospital Halle.
In addition to his successful research (OVGU Magdeburg research award winner 2019), Prof. Fischer has achieved great success in promoting young scientists.Together with partners in oncology and the Collaborative Research Center SFB854, he obtained funding from the Else Kröner-Fresenius Foundation for a training college for clinician scientists, which enables young doctors to combine their clinical work with research work.
Prof. Dr. med. Thomas Fischer, born in 1958 in Lindau on Lake Constance, studied human medicine in Cluj-Napoca (Romania), Hanover and Göttingen.Following his doctorate and research stays in Göttingen and Canada, he completed clinical training at the University of Mainz and at the Cleveland Clinic in the USA.In 2009, he was appointed to the Chair of Hematology and Oncology at the University of Magdeburg and was Chairman of the Board of the Tumor Center Magdeburg/Saxony-Anhalt e.V. for many years.
Background
In accordance with Section 6 of the Basic Regulations of Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg, senior professorships, which are limited to three years, are awarded to individuals with outstanding research or teaching achievements. Retired professors can be particularly honored with this title and continue to be actively involved in teaching and research.