Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Volker Schirrmacher

Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Volker Schirrmacher is a world-renowned immunologist and cancer researcher, widely recognized as a pioneer in the development of cancer immunotherapies and the study of tumor metastasis. His career is marked by a deep commitment to understanding how the immune system can be harnessed to combat aggressive malignancies. As the long-standing head of Cellular Immunology at the German Cancer Research Center, he focused his efforts on the mechanisms of concomitant immunity and the role of bone marrow as a vital reservoir for immunological memory and T-cell priming. In his current capacity as the Scientific Director at the IOZK in Cologne, Dr. Schirrmacher specializes in the clinical application of oncolytic viruses, specifically the Newcastle Disease Virus (NDV). His research has led to the integration of viral-based vaccines with dendritic cell therapy to create individualized multimodal treatments for patients with late-stage cancers, such as glioblastoma. With scientific publications, he continues to shape the landscape of modern oncology by bridging the gap between molecular biochemistry and compassionate clinical care.