Researcher Database
Prof. Dr. Heinz-Peter Schlemmer
Im Neuenheimer Feld 280
69120 Heidelberg
Program
Radiation Oncology and Imaging (ROI)
Summary
The strategic initiative “Joint Imaging Platform” was started in July 2017. It aims at establishing a distributed IT infrastructure for image analysis and machine learning at all member institutions of the DKTK. It facilitates pooling of analysis methods that can be applied in an automated and standardized manner to patient data of the different centers. We investigate distributed learning methods as well as latest private cloud technologies for a robust, safe, and flexible deployment of data management and processing methods.
In 2018, we refined the requirements and developed a first version of the core components of the system:
- JIP Base: User interface for image review, processing control, monitoring, management and configuration
- JIP Store: Service for communication with local storage solutions (e.g. PACS)
- JIP Meta: Metadata search and exploration engine for cohort definition
- JIP Flow: Processing engine for standardized and distributed analysis and machine learning
A quality-centric process was established to manage requirements and test feedback. Security aspects like a login system connected to local authorization backends were addressed.
A first version of meta data analysis was evaluated on 1900 subjects at DKFZ, comprising >3000 CT and MR series. Automatic organ segmentation and radiomics calculations were performed to validate the JIP Flow component. A system for efficient web-based review of automatic segmentation results was identified as a necessary component. The successful development and evaluation was published and will be presented at the BVM 2019.
The Heidelberg team tested a first prototype of the platform at Essen, Frankfurt and Munich (TUM) as well as Heidelberg University Hospital and DKFZ Radiology. Feedback and lessons learned were integrated in the further specification and development of the components for connectivity to clinical systems. Further cross-site interaction was initiated through SW demonstrations at the RöKo (05/18), the DKTK retreat (10/18) as well as for the administrative site representatives of the DKTK (11/18). The first official release was made available for all sites (03/19).
DKTK Junior Group Leader for Cancer Systems Biology
Single-cell approaches have not only revealed a wide variety of cell states, characterized by cells exhibiting striking differences in their transcriptional profile, but have also illuminated the mechanisms underlying state transitions in health and disease. Cellular plasticity and adaptive state changes have recently emerged as a basis for therapeutic resistance in cancer, and a better understanding of how cell state transitions are regulated is critical to develop therapeutic approaches that can overcome therapy resistance.
Our research focuses on understanding the mechanisms driving non-genetic cellular heterogeneity and therapy resistance in malignancy. Using novel single-cell sequencing approaches, we seek to develop new experimental and computational strategies to define altered cell states in both, cancer and immune cells. Our aim is to leverage a data driven strategy combined with single cell genomics and systems biology to address the challenges posed by heterogeneity in cancer, and to develop new strategies to overcome it, with the aim of translating laboratory-based findings into the clinic.