Author: Marcus Klüssendorf

The team of the Institute of Experimental Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (EPHO) is delighted and proud to have received substantial funding from the José Carreras Leukemia Foundation for two projects led respectively by PD Dr. Meike Vogler and Prof. Dr. Dirk Heckl which will help to promote research at the Petra-Joh Research House.

Over the next few years, PD Dr. Vogler’s research project “Targeting senescence as anti-lymphoma strategy” will investigate the role of senescence, a cellular protective mechanism against stress and abnormal cell growth, in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Prof. Dr. Heckl’s project “Defining novel vulnerabilities in pediatric high-risk AML” will explore the role of early childhood gene expression patterns in acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, a particularly aggressive form of pediatric acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

The excellent network of the EPHO, both locally in Frankfurt and internationally, and in particular Prof. Jan-Henning Klusmann, Director of the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine of the University Hospital at the Goethe University Frankfurt, and Prof. Salvador Macip of the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute at the University of Barcelona, have been crucial to the success of the grant proposals.

Both projects will employ the latest methodologies of molecular and cell biology, which will contribute to a high translational potential and increase the chances of new successful cancer therapies.

Project Prof. Heckl:

Utilizing disease modelling, phenotypic characterization and comparative analysis of pediatric and adult cell of origin contribution to cancerogenesis, the project will comprehensively decipher the molecular core of NUP98::KDM5A-driven acute leukemias and leverage this gained knowledge to develop molecularly targeted therapies for this currently hard-to-treat subform of AML.

Project Dr. Vogler:

Lymphoma is treated with a combination of immuno- and chemotherapy, which can lead to cell death or apoptosis. In some patients, not all lymphoma cells die upon chemotherapy, which causes resistance and treatment failure. In solid tumours, chemotherapy can also induce cellular senescence and the associated induction of cytokine release. In this project, we aim to investigate the role of senescence in lymphoma and the consequences of senescence-associated cytokine release on lymphoma cells as well as the microenvironment.

It was with great pleasure and extreme gratitude that we recently received the “Förderpreis für Menschlichkeit” (Advancement Award for Humanity), which the Masonic Lodge “Zur Einigkeit” awards every year to charitable organisations for their special social commitment, in a festive setting!

The 5,000 euro prize honoured the voluntary work of the foundation’s board of directors to continuously improve the chances of recovery for children and young people with cancer, as well as the opportunity for (formerly) ill young people to complete a commercial apprenticeship at the foundation.

For 30 years, we have not only adhered to our vision of giving all children with cancer the chance of a cure and the prospect of a long life without long-term consequences, but also to the idea that every young person deserves the chance of a good vocational training programme, regardless of financial means, personal circumstances or health issues such as cancer.

Another prize went to the Milena girls’ office, an educational and integration centre for girls and women that offers them a safe place to meet, whether they have a refugee background or not. Congratulations!

Deputy Chairwoman Heike Dommsch, who “can only carry her daughter in her heart”, and Board member Fabian Rauch, who was affected by cancer himself as a teenager, expressed their gratitude for the award in moving personal speeches and emphasised the importance of children’s cancer research. Beaming with joy, those present at the foundation accepted the generous donation cheque.

We are delighted with this wonderful recognition and say a heartfelt “THANK YOU” to the Masonic Lodge “Zur Einigkeit” for the award.

Research helps healing – Help research

Picture (from left): Dr Lorry Schirer (Chairman WA-LzE); Marcus Klüssendorf (Managing Director), Gisela Reisert, Julia Naatz (former trainee), Fabian Rauch (Board Member and laudator), Heike Dommsch (Deputy chairwoman) of the Frankfurt Foundation for Children with Cancer; Mr Lutz Lochner (Board Member WA-LzE).

We are very pleased to have welcomed Mr Omid Nouripour to our event this week! As the Federal Chairman of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen and a member of the German Bundestag, he is not only politically engaged, but also a supporter of our existentially important research work.

We spent an informative day together, which ended with a tour of the laboratories at our foundation’s own Dr Petra Joh Research Centre. It was a wonderful opportunity to give an insight into our research work and talk about the challenges in the fight against paediatric cancer.

Mr Nouripour: “The people here manage to draw strength from strokes of fate to help others. The work of the foundation and its employees deserves my greatest appreciation.”

We would like to thank Mr Nouripour for his visit and his interest in our work! Together, we are committed to a future in which every child with cancer has the right to a healthy life without long-term consequences!

Photo (from left): Prof. Heckl, Mr Nouripour, Ms von Haselberg (Management Board), Dr Vogel, Dr Vogt (Chairman of the Management Board), Dr Rothweiler, Ms Kulik, Mr Klüssendorf (MD), Mr Blankenburg (Management Board)

Above the rooftops of Frankfurt, on the 27th floor of Radio Frankfurt, our Board Member Heike Dommsch and our Managing Director Marcus Klüssendorf were able to talk about the successes of paediatric cancer research in Germany, but also the conditions that need to be improved, and present the Frankfurt Foundation for Children with Cancer to radio listeners in a relaxed atmosphere on the radio show “Main Frankfurt” for two hours on a Saturday evening.

Hassan Annouri presents the programme “Main Frankfurt” on Radio Frankfurt every Saturday from 8 to 10 p.m. and invites personalities who shape the city of Frankfurt through their work and commitment.

It turned out that Hassan Annouri and Heike Dommsch have known each other for many years. In the past, Hassan Annouri has supported and accompanied a group of children and young people with cancer, including Mrs Dommsch’s daughter Annemarie, who unfortunately died of cancer. In addition to current issues concerning the Frankfurt Foundation for Children with Cancer, we also chatted about many shared experiences from the past. All in all, it was an all-round successful event.

To ensure that we don’t lose sight of each other again, a format has been developed in which Hassan Annouri and the journalist and supporter Dr Alexander Reichwein, who was also present, will use their contacts to help the foundation gain more attention.

Stay tuned…

This is what Darmstadt-based artist and author Eberhard Malwitz has decided to do with his intention to sell a large part of his artwork in favour of our foundation.

To kick off this great project, he will give a lecture on Thursday, 16 May 2024 at 19:00 entitled “Über Krieg und Kunst (On War and Art)”, based on his book “Donnerkeile”.

In this book, he has documented memories of the last years of the Second World War and his growing up in the post-war period, capturing many events – from memory – in drawings. He will be showing some of these works on this evening and will also be talking about his artistic work throughout the lecture.

Venue of the event: Künstlerhaus Ziegelhütte, Kranichsteiner Straße 110, 64289 Darmstadt (https://künstlerhaus-ziegelhütte.de/).

The first exhibition of Eberhard Malwitz’s project will take place on 25 and 26 May 2024 as part of the spring festival, also at Künstlerhaus Ziegelhütte.

A larger exhibition will take place on 20 September 2024 in the Designhaus on the Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt, parallel to the reopening of the restored exhibition halls and the celebrations of the World Heritage Site.

Eberhard Malwitz’s oeuvre comprises over 2,000 works, mainly small-format drawings and watercolours, but also sculptures made of ice, collages and large photos on aluminium dibond.

We are enthusiastic about the artist’s project and would be delighted if you would like to gain a first impression of his multifaceted oeuvre by attending the lecture and/or exhibition at the Künstlerhaus Ziegelhütte and support this extraordinary project by purchasing one of his works.

On the homepage https://www.malwitz-art.de/ you will find a catalogue with a selection of his extensive work.

Having become aware of us through the LinkedIn posts and the partner film with Frankfurter Sparkasse, the sales manager of the Börsenzeitung, Mr Andrei Poleacov, did not hesitate for long and offered 4 free full-page advertisements in the Börsenzeitung (as well as the online version) for the 30th anniversary of the foundation in 2024. And that’s not all. As we at the foundation have little expertise and resources for creating large-format newspaper advertisements, the advertising manager, Mr Yasin Turan, created the advertisements according to our specifications in his spare time. Many thanks to both of them!

By establishing a network, we are coming a step closer to our goal. No more children or young people should die of cancer or suffer serious long-term consequences. As long as we have such great supporters accompanying us on our journey, we are sure that one day we will be able to announce a “100%” cure rate. Become a companion and support our vision.