Professor Thomas Efferth stands as a distinguished leader in pharmaceutical biology and cancer pharmacology, currently serving as Director of the Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences and Chair of the Department of Pharmaceutical Biology at Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany. Trained as a biologist at the Technical University Darmstadt, he established his research foundation through doctoral studies at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg. Following his PhD, he led a research group at DKFZ from 2005 to 2009 while concurrently serving as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Heidelberg. His appointment to a full professorship at Johannes Gutenberg University in 2009 marked a significant milestone in his academic trajectory, culminating in his current directorship of the Institute of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Sciences since 2021.
Professor Efferth has produced an extraordinary scholarly output with over 870 PubMed-listed publications spanning cancer research, pharmacology, and natural products, achieving an impressive Hirsch factor of 119 and accumulating more than 70,000 citations according to Google Scholar. His groundbreaking research focuses on molecular mechanisms of drug action, particularly investigating natural substances for cancer treatment and strategies to overcome drug resistance. As editor-in-chief of the high-impact journal Phytomedicine (impact factor 6.6), he has significantly shaped discourse in pharmaceutical sciences while also authoring a seminal textbook on Molecular Pharmacology and Toxicology published by Springer. His translational impact extends to eight patented innovations and numerous highly cited publications that have established new paradigms in understanding plant-derived compounds for therapeutic applications.
Beyond his personal research achievements, Dr. Efferth has cultivated the next generation of scientific leaders, with eighteen of his former laboratory members advancing to prominent academic positions including university presidents, deans, and professors across multiple institutions. He serves as editor-in-chief of Phytomedicine and holds editorial positions with Pharmaceuticals, Naunyn-Schmiedeberg's Archives of Pharmacology, and the Journal of Ethnopharmacology, demonstrating his significant influence in the field. His scientific advisory roles with organizations including the German Pharmaceutical Society and extensive international collaborations highlight his leadership in global pharmaceutical research. Continuing to push boundaries in natural product research for cancer therapy, his laboratory remains at the forefront of discovering novel therapeutic approaches with significant potential for clinical translation and impact on patient care.
