Prof. Dr. Elke Burgermeister

Dr. Elke Burgermeister is a molecular oncologist and senior staff scientist based at Heidelberg University and the Universitätsklinikum Mannheim. She leads the Molecular Oncology Research Group within the II. Medical Clinic—specializing in gastroenterology, hepatology, infectious diseases, and nutritional medicine. Her research focuses on the molecular mechanisms underlying the development and progression of gastrointestinal cancers, especially gastric and colorectal carcinoma. Using a combination of molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, and genetically modified animal models, her lab investigates how environmental factors (such as diet or microbial infection) and nuclear receptor signaling drive carcinogenesis and reveal novel therapeutic targets.

Prof. Bürger­meister has co-authored several influential publications, including work on the role of TFAP2E–DKK4 signaling in colorectal cancer chemoresistance and the BMAL1–REVERBA axis linking circadian regulation to bevacizumab resistance. With over 2,600 citations on ResearchGate and substantial contributions to understanding WNT pathway modulation, her profile reflects decades of leadership in gastrointestinal cancer research .

Situated at Mannheim’s research-intensive medical campus, her team’s translational efforts aim to move preclinical findings into clinical innovations. Their goal is to better comprehend how tumor–microenvironment interactions affect disease progression and treatment response in gastrointestinal oncology.