If there is a suspicion of a hereditary cancer risk, early clarification is important for those affected. In Germany, however, there is a lack of nationwide access to human genetic care, especially in rural areas. The Innovation Fund project "OnkoRiskNET", led by a team from the Institute of Human Genetics at Hannover Medical School (MHH), has addressed this problem and set up a cooperation network for the local care of patients with a genetic tumor risk in Lower Saxony and Saxony. The project has now been honored for its work with the Lower Saxony Health Award in the category "E-Health - New Opportunities in Healthcare".
Closing gaps in care
"In Germany, around half a million people are diagnosed with cancer every year. At least one in ten has a genetic mutation that increases the risk of cancer and can lead to the development of tumors," says Professor Dr. Anke Bergmann, specialist in human genetics and project manager of OnkoRiskNET. "With this project, we want to ensure access to genetic counseling, diagnostics and risk-adapted prevention for genetic tumor risk syndromes in structurally weak regions."
"We see that cancer patients in this stressful situation often cannot find the long way to an Institute of Human Genetics. It was therefore clear to us that there is a very significant gap in care here," reports Professor Dr. Brigitte Schlegelberger, who was Director of the Institute of Human Genetics at the MHH until May 2023.
Knowing one's own family history of cancer is important for those affected. A genetic test can help to improve treatment and thus the chances of recovery. Cancer screening can also be adapted to detect cancer early or even prevent it.
Telemedicine and structured treatment pathways
OnkoRiskNET has developed structured treatment pathways, offers support in establishing indications and interpreting findings in a network with oncologists in private practice and gives those affected access to telemedical genetic counseling. "We want to reach those affected and their families where they are and prevent them from slipping through the system and not being noticed until they have cancer. The fact that this is now working is our greatest success," says Dr. Johanna Tecklenburg, co-initiator and former employee at the Institute of Human Genetics at the MHH. "To now receive this award for the project is fantastic."
In addition to the MHH, the Institute for Clinical Genetics at the Carl Gustav Carus Medical Faculty in Dresden, the Institute for Journalism and Communication Research at the Hanover University of Music, Drama and Media, inav - Privates Institut für angewandte Versorgungsforschung GmbH, AOK Niedersachsen and the patient organization BRCA-Netzwerk e.V. are also involved in the project.
The Lower Saxony Health Prize is awarded annually by the Lower Saxony Ministry of Social Affairs, Labour, Health and Equality, the Lower Saxony Ministry of Economic Affairs, Transport, Building and Digitization, the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians of Lower Saxony, the AOK Lower Saxony and the Lower Saxony Chamber of Pharmacists.
Further information can be found at
Short film about OnkoRiskNet on the occasion of the award ceremony