Our clinical cancer research group bridges the gap between scientific advances and real-world patient care. We develop research questions directly from challenges encountered in daily clinical practice, with a focus on gastrointestinal malignancies, ensuring our work addresses the most pressing needs of patients and their families. While cancer diagnostics and treatment have advanced tremendously, these innovations do not benefit all patients equally. Our research focuses on two critical areas where evidence gaps remain significant.

Treatment optimization

First, we identify and study patient subgroups who are underserved by current clinical evidence. These include clinical subgroups such as elderly or comorbid patients, as well as specific molecular subgroups. For these populations, we optimize treatment strategies including supportive measures, with particular attention to patient-centered outcomes. Beyond traditional effectiveness endpoints, we prioritize understanding and minimizing adverse events while preserving or improving quality of life through patient-reported outcomes.

Early Detection

Second, we concentrate on personalized prevention and early detection. Through analysis of clinical and molecular characteristics, we define risk groups for personalized screening and secondary prevention strategies. We also develop and test implementation approaches to ensure these evidence-based interventions reach the patients who need them most. By grounding our research in the realities of clinical oncology practice and screening programs, and focusing on populations currently underserved by existing evidence, we strive to advance cancer care that is more equitable, personalized, and patient-centered.

Ongoing research projects

PREcision ScrEeniNg for ColoRectal Cancer: a randomized non-inferiority Trial (PRESENT CRC)

Research question: Is risk-based screnning for colorectal cancer as effective and less resource-intensive as care-as-usual for detection of advanced neoplasia? https://www.etude-colon.ch/de

ACTIVE-trial: prospective randomized controlled multicenter trial

Research question: Does exercise during first-line palliative chemotherapy for colorectal cancer improve progression-free survival and quality of life?

SENECA-cohort

Research question: Chronological versus biological age as determinant for immune-related adverse events in cancer patients treated with immuncheckpoint-inhibitors

PLATO cohort

Research question: Perioperative treatment of pancreatic cancer – biomarkers for R0 resection

[FG] Hess Viviane

Head of Research Unit

Prof. Dr. med. Viviane Hess

Members

Dr.

Anne Geng

Member of Professorship / Research Group Department of Clinical Research

Dr.

Melanie Haag

Member of Professorship / Research Group Department of Clinical Research

Prof. Dr. med.

Viviane Hess

Professorship / Head of Research Group Department of Clinical Research