Dirk Schadendorf MD

Dirk Schadendorf, MD, currently directs both the Department of Dermatology and the West German Cancer Center (WTZ), Essen, Germany. Prof. Schadendorf completed his medical degree at the University of Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany, in 1986. He received post-doctoral training in Tumor Immunology at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY. After completing his residency in dermatology at Rudolf Virchow University Hospital in Berlin, Germany, he became an Assistant Professor in 1995. Prof. Schadendorf then led the Skin Cancer Unit at the German Cancer Research Center and served as Associate Professor at Mannheim University Hospital, Mannheim, Germany.

Prof. Schadendorf is internationally recognized for his groundbreaking work in melanoma, particularly in the fields of tumor immunology, resistance mechanisms, and targeted therapies. He has played a key role in the development of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy, offering effective treatment for metastatic melanoma. As a leader in clinical and translational research, Prof. Schadendorf has published over 700 peer-reviewed papers in prestigious journals such as the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Medicine, and The Lancet Oncology. His findings are frequently presented at major global oncology conferences, and he remains actively involved in more than 30 clinical trials. Prof. Schadendorf’s leadership in the EORTC Melanoma Group and DeCOG has significantly shaped the treatment landscape for melanoma.