Founded by oncologists driven by a shared vision to make a global impact, our mission is to advance science-driven cancer research through collaboration between industry and academia. By leveraging the strengths and expertise of both sectors, we strive to deliver answers to crucial clinical questions.
We believe in physician-initiated and academia-industry collaborative trials as cornerstones of medical innovation to improve the chance of cure and the quality of life of our patients. Furthermore, we place great importance on intelligent cross-sector networking, which we see as the driving force for fostering research collaborations and accomplishing ambitious objectives that might otherwise be challenging to achieve.
Alongside our partners, we want to shape the future of cancer therapy, answer crucial clinical questions, and pose new ones, aiming for a world where a cancer diagnosis has lost its terror.
Approximately 25 years ago, the IKF was founded within the oncology-focused Krankenhaus Nordwest in Frankfurt, making it one of the first research institutes to recognize the importance of physician-initiated and collaborative clinical cancer research, along with its specific needs and requirements.
By providing professional structures, the IKF created opportunities for academic and collaborative research projects to develop innovative therapy options. This was made possible through a strong patient orientation, the establishment of dedicated research platforms, and extensive networking within the scientific community.
With the development of the FLOT regimen, IKF research fundamentally changed the treatment of stomach and esophageal cancer. The successful concept of IKF - guiding studies from initial idea to publication and working in trusted collaboration with scientists - was subsequently applied in many other tumor entities and has significantly influenced their treatment algorithms.
For years, clinical research physicians together with IKF as their partner have been shaping the clinical research landscape nationally and internationally, changing treatment guidelines with the aim of improving cure rates and enhancing patients’ quality of life.