Keyvisual der Cancer Prevention Graduate School mit Schriftzug neben Regenschirmgrafik.

Cancer Prevention Graduate School

The Cancer Prevention Graduate School (CPGS) is the first graduate school for cancer prevention research in Germany. It offers a comprehensive continuing education program including seminars, summer schools, research stays and mentoring for excellent doctoral students.

The CPGS was established in fall 2022 as the first graduate school for cancer prevention research in Germany. In eleven innovative and multidisciplinary projects, 13 doctoral students from different countries are completing their doctorates at seven partner institutions. The doctoral students and projects were selected in a highly competitive selection process. Numerous other interested and associated researchers regularly participate in the educational programs.

The CPGS offers a comprehensive curriculum for excellent doctoral students - with the aim of training them to become experts in cancer prevention research. The program includes courses in key disciplines of cancer prevention research. The scholarship holders take part in regular seminars and summer schools. Research stays as visiting scientists are also included. In addition, the CPGS offers a mentoring program for individual career development. An online platform promotes the development of a network, supports the exchange of ideas and encourages scholarship holders to learn from each other.

Many elements of the program are also open to interested researchers outside the CPGS. Details are regularly announced in the CPGS newsletter.

The CPGS is a funding priority program of German Cancer Aid, which is providing three million euros for the graduate school from 2022 to 2026. The CPGS coordination office is located at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg.

CPGS Newsletter

Would you like to be informed about news and updates on CPGS? Then subscribe to our CPGS newsletter by sending us an e-mail.

Project Overview

The innovative projects of the Cancer Prevention Graduate School cover three thematic complexes of cancer prevention research: 

  • Public Health and Social Impact Research
  • Communication Research
  • Biological Mechanisms of Carcinogenesis, Genetic Predisposition and Biomarkers

The selected projects embrace the full spectrum of prevention research, from primary prevention to early detection and tertiary prevention of cancer.

CPGS Summer School 2024

Summer School 2024: State-of-the-Art Cancer Screening 

The first CPGS Summer School took place in Seeon Monastery, Bavaria, from August 5 to 9, 2024, on the topic of cancer screening. The program included entity-based modules on gynecological tumors, prostate cancer, colorectal cancer, skin cancer and lung cancer as well as on molecular mechanisms that are important for cancer prevention. These modules were embedded in overarching questions that focused on the need, potential and evaluation of cancer screening tests and programs. The aspect of cost-effectiveness was also highlighted.

In addition to specialist presentations, the event included interactive elements such as individual and group work, exercises and discussion rounds. Hermann Brenner (scientific coordinator of the CPGS), Uwe Siebert, Beate Jahn, Anne Quante, Christine Fischer, Renée Turzanski-Fortner, Alexander Katalinic, Hilary Robbins, Michael Quante, Jens Puschhof, Karol Nowicki-Osuch and Kevin Ten-Haaf designed and conducted the program modules.

The event enabled an intensive discussion of the current state of research as well as a comprehensive insight into current and future developments in cancer screening and promoted scientific exchange.

Contact us

Hermann Brenner

Prof. Dr. Hermann Brenner

Scientific coordinator of the "Cancer Prevention Graduate School"

Alexia Arnold

Dr. Alexia Arnold

Project manager of the "Cancer Prevention Graduate School"

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