News of 30.10.2024

Better understanding and treatment of brain tumors with the help of imaging

Andreas Maurer moves to the HZDR

On November 1, 2024, biochemist Andreas Maurer will take up his professorship for Experimental Neurooncological Radiopharmacy at the Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research at the Helmholtz-Zentrum Dresden-Rossendorf (HZDR). This is a joint professorship with the University of Leipzig. At the HZDR, Maurer will head the Department of Experimental Neurooncological Radiopharmacy at the Leipzig Research Site.

Maurer is moving from the Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, where, after a research stay at the “Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center” in New York, he has been a group leader at the Werner Siemens Imaging Center in the Department of Preclinical Imaging and Radiopharmacy since 2021. In Leipzig, he intends to continue his research into the development of new radiotracers for the non-invasive imaging of biological processes in the body.

HZDR´s Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research develops radiotracers as radioactive drugs for clinical use. These radiopharmaceuticals are used in the fight against cancer in non-invasive nuclear medicine diagnostics as well as in the treatment of primary and secondary brain tumors.

Maurer decided against two other professorships in order to move to Leipzig. He is now looking forward to the many years of expertise of his new team at the HZDR, with whom he would like to set new priorities. He also appreciates the interdisciplinary collaboration with experts from biology, chemistry, pharmacy, medicine and other disciplines within the HZDR, Leipzig University and other networks. “For me, this collaboration with colleagues from a wide range of disciplines is the best thing about science. It is precisely by shedding light on the interfaces between individual disciplines that we gain completely new insights.”

Another decisive factor in Maurer's decision to go to Leipzig was the PET/MRI scanner planned there for small animal studies, which is intended to further improve the imaging of brain tumors at the molecular level using positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In the long term, this will advance the translational development of new radiopharmaceuticals, promote the training of excellent scientists in Leipzig and ensure the international visibility of the location.

Further information:

Andreas Maurer I Institute of Radiopharmaceutical Cancer Research
Phone:+49 351 2604610