Dr. Peter H. Krammer is a distinguished German immunologist renowned for his leadership in tumor immunology and apoptosis research. He currently serves as Director of the Tumor-Immunology Program and Head of the Division of Immunogenetics at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, positions he has held since 1989 after joining DKFZ in 1976. As one of the founding directors of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) since 2010, he has played a pivotal role in integrating research and clinical care for cancer patients. His career has been marked by significant leadership transitions, including co-founding Apogenix in 2000, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing apoptosis-targeted therapeutics. Dr. Krammer's institutional influence extends across Germany's premier cancer research organizations, establishing him as a cornerstone of the nation's oncology research infrastructure.
Dr. Krammer's groundbreaking research has fundamentally transformed our understanding of programmed cell death, particularly through his seminal discovery of the CD95 receptor (also known as Fas and APO-1) and associated signaling molecules that regulate apoptosis. His work elucidating the CD95 signaling pathway has provided crucial insights into how cells receive molecular messages that trigger their death program, with profound implications for understanding both normal development and disease states. His publications rank among the most frequently cited in the life sciences, reflecting the transformative impact of his discoveries on immunology and cancer biology. Notably, Dr. Krammer developed a substance that interferes with CD95 signaling, which is now in clinical trials for treating malignant brain tumors by slowing cell division and invasive growth. His research has revealed how dysregulated CD95 signals contribute to autoimmune diseases through excessive cell death, while insufficient apoptosis enables cancer progression.
Recognized with numerous prestigious awards including the Robert Koch Prize, German Cancer Prize, and German Cancer Aid Prize, Dr. Krammer's scientific legacy continues to shape therapeutic approaches to cancer and autoimmune disorders. His translational focus has successfully bridged fundamental apoptosis research with clinical applications, demonstrating his commitment to moving discoveries from bench to bedside. Dr. Krammer's recent work on how dying cells prevent dangerous immune reactions through annexin proteins and dectin-1 signaling has opened new avenues for understanding peripheral immune tolerance. As a mentor and scientific leader, he has trained generations of researchers while maintaining an active laboratory investigating novel approaches to modulate cell death pathways for therapeutic benefit. His ongoing research continues to explore the complex interplay between apoptosis and immune responses, with the goal of developing more effective cancer treatments that target these fundamental biological processes.
