No. 14 April 13, 2010 (nis)
Royal Visitor at the German Cancer Research Center: Princess of Thailand Visits Heidelberg
The Princess of Thailand, Her Royal Highness Princess Professor Dr. Chulabhorn Mahidol, is visiting the German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ).
The youngest daughter of the current King of Thailand, Bhumibol Adulyadej (Rama IX.), and Queen Sirikit Kitiyakara has accepted an invitation by Nobel Prize recipient and former Scientific Director of DKFZ, Professor Harald zur Hausen, and the current Scientific and Commercial Directors of the German Cancer Research Center, Professor Dr. Otmar D .Wiestler and Dr. Josef Puchta. “This visit of Her Royal Highness Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol is a great pleasure and honor for us and it reinforces the friendly bond that has linked us for many years,” said Professor Otmar D. Wiestler, Chairman of the Management Board and Scientific Director of DKFZ. The princess visits the German Cancer Research Center from Tuesday, April 13th until Thursday, April 15th, 2010. The princess is a chemist by profession and is working in the area of cancer research, too. Therefore, she is particularly interested in the latest developments at the German Cancer Research Center. In lectures and laboratory visits, the princess learns from DKFZ scientists about cancer stem cells, immune therapy or links between lifestyle and cancer. Also on the agenda is a visit of the world’s first 7-Tesla MRI machine used exclusively for oncology purposes at DKFZ and the Heidelberg Ion Therapy Center (HIT) of Heidelberg University Hospitals. Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol, born in 1957 in Bangkok, has received numerous awards as a professor of chemistry. She received her doctoral degree in organic chemistry in 1985 at Mahidol University. Subsequently, she worked as a visiting scientist at universities in Asia, North America and Germany. Her field of special interest is chemistry of natural products. In 1987, she founded her own research institute, the Chulabhorn Research Institute (CRI) in Bangkok. As its president, she pursues research into how substances can be obtained from natural products and might be used as drugs against diseases such as malaria and, above all, cancer. In 1995, the German Cancer Research Center concluded a collaboration agreement with the CRI. Following her previous visits in 1986, 1995 and 2000, this is Princess Chulabhorn Mahidol’s fourth visit to the German Cancer Research Center.
A picture for this press release is available on the Internet at: www.dkfz.de/de/presse/pressemitteilungen/2010/images/Empfang_chulabhorn.jpg Source: DKFZ
Picture caption: Dr. Josef Puchta, Commercial Director of the German Cancer Research Center (left) , receiving the princess together with DKFZ’s former Scientific Director, Professor Harald zur Hausen (right).
The German Cancer Research Center (Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum, DKFZ) is the largest biomedical research institute in Germany and is a member of the Helmholtz Association of National Research Centers. More than 2,000 staff members, including 850 scientists, are investigating the mechanisms of cancer and are working to identify cancer risk factors. They provide the foundations for developing novel approaches in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. In addition, the staff of the Cancer Information Service (KID) offers information about the widespread disease of cancer for patients, their families, and the general public. The Center is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (90%) and the State of Baden-Württemberg (10%).
Dr. Stefanie Seltmann Leiterin Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit Deutsches Krebsforschungszentrum Im Neuenheimer Feld 280 D-69120 Heidelberg T: +49 6221 42 2854 F: +49 6221 42 2968 [email protected]