A central pillar of our research is the direct implementation of organoid-based and immune-engineering technologies into prospective clinical trials. By embedding functional model systems into trial design, we aim to translate biological insights into clinically actionable strategies and advance precision oncology beyond purely molecular stratification.
The UNITEPANC trial (lead center: Ulm) is the first study in Germany to implement patient-derived organoid technology to guide therapy decisions in the adjuvant setting for resectable pancreatic cancer. This trial provides a unique opportunity to prospectively evaluate organoid-informed treatment strategies and to translate functional precision oncology into routine clinical care.
In the ESPAC-6 trial, Max Reichert serves as both clinical investigator and Chair of the Translational Committee. This dual role enables active shaping of the clinical study protocol alongside a tightly integrated translational research program, aligning clinical endpoints with organoid-based functional analyses and biomarker development.
Our clinical platform was further expanded through ResCPa, a nationwide, BMBF-funded "Grand Challenge" project that launched in December 2024. ResCPa aims to develop a novel CD318-directed CAR-T cell therapy for pancreatic cancer, addressing a major unmet need in solid tumor immunotherapy. The consortium includes the University Hospitals of Freiburg, Tübingen, Heidelberg, TUM University Hospital, and the BIH at Charité, in collaboration with Miltenyi Biotec. The project spans preclinical development through early clinical testing, with a first-in-human study planned for 2026 and exemplifies our strategy to rapidly translate experimental innovations into clinical application.