Junior Academy of the German Study Center for Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery (DSZ-HNO): Further development of head and neck oncology - new experimental approaches of clinical-translational research

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Orlando Guntinas-Lichius
• Subject Area: Otolaryngology, Phoniatrics and Audiology
• Term: since 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 522905093

The promotion of scientific otolaryngology, head and neck surgery is a central task of the German Society for Ear, Nose and Throat Medicine, Head and Neck Surgery (DGHNO-KHC). As an interdisciplinary subject with both conservative and surgical orientation with a strong relationship to medical technology and interfaces to neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, internal medicine/oncology, oral and maxillofacial surgery and many more, it is necessary to have ENT's own interdisciplinary expertise more in new experimental approaches clinically and engage in translational research. Attractive, innovative scientific work should also help to retain outstanding young people in the academic institutions and to draw the attention of students to ENT science early on, which is supported by the DGHNO-KHC. The medium-term plans of the DSZ-HNO see the strategic focus of work in these three areas for the next few years: 1) head neck oncology, 2) otology, 3) immunology. The third focus represents a cross-sectional area that has currently gained considerable momentum in terms of scientific knowledge and the implementation of new drugs both in oncology and in inflammatory ENT diseases. Let us start thematically with head neck oncology. In particular, the new findings on pathogenesis, the importance of immuno-oncology and the innovations in image analysis to support oncosurgery of head and neck tumors were decisive for the prioritization.

• DFG Programme: Workshops for Early Career Investigators