New Endowed Professorship Strengthens Oncological Care in Freiburg
Freiburg, 07/04/2026
The University of Freiburg’s Faculty of Medicine and the Medical Center – University of Freiburg have secured a grant worth 1.5 million euros from German Cancer Aid to establish an endowed professorship for oncological care.
The endowed professorship will help orient oncological care consistently towards the needs of cancer patients. Photo: C Davids/peopleimages.com – stock.adobe.com
Increasingly complex cancer therapies present new challenges for patient care. The University of Freiburg’s Faculty of Medicine and the Medical Center – University of Freiburg have therefore secured a grant worth 1.5 million euros from German Cancer Aid to establish an endowed professorship for oncological care. It will serve the purpose of developing oncological care in treatment, research, and teaching and orienting it consistently towards the needs of cancer patients.
‘With the endowed professorship, German Canter Aid is providing very targeted support for oncological care in Freiburg. The professorship makes it possible to link research, teaching, and clinical practice even more closely’, says Prof. Dr. Lutz Hein, dean of the University of Freiburg’s Faculty of Medicine. ‘I would like to thank everyone at Freiburg University Medicine from nursing science, the departments, and the nursing administration who contributed to the successful application.’
Research, qualification, and new roles in care
The endowed professorship will use existing research initiatives and networks to systematically advance research on oncological care in Germany. Special emphasis will be placed on strengthening advanced practice nurses (APN), specially qualified nurses with extended skills, of which there are already many at the Medical Center – University of Freiburg. They will be integrated specifically into doctoral degree programmes and into research and care projects.
Also planned is the establishment of an academic career pathway with an emphasis on oncology from the bachelor to the doctorate. The aim is to create new specialization options for nurses, strengthen academic further qualification, and support new clinical roles in Germany. The main focus is on establishing a close link between theory, practice, and interprofessional learning. In addition to Freiburg, the University of Halle is also receiving a grant for this chair. The two institutions will collaborate closely on the development of research projects and degree programmes. The funding from German Cancer Aid will run for five years.