Prof Dr Volker Diehl

Diehl_photo
Diehl_photo

Professor Volker Diehl is Director emeritus for Internal Medicine at the University of Cologne, Germany. Amongst numerous positions he was Founder and Chairman of the German Hodgkin Study Group (GHSG) for 30 years, he is now the Honorary Chairman of this group. He was Founding Director of the National Cancer Center in Heidelberg 2004-2005.

 

 

His major scientific achievements are:

  • the first immortalization of umbilical cord blood cells to long term lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL)
  • the first demonstration that EBV causes infectious mononucleosis,
  • the first establishment of Hodgkin-Reed Sternberg cell lines in vitro,
  • the co-discovery of the CD30 antigen and co-development of associated monoclonal antibodies, .

His Clinical achievements are:

  • the foundation of the GHSG,
  • the design and establishment of six generations of consecutive Hodgkin trials within the GHSG,
  • among other path leading innovations the design and implementation of the BEACOPP principle for advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma
  • the inauguration and establishment of the International Prognostic Index for advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma together with Dirk Hasenclever
  • the foundation of the European Task Force for Lymphocyte Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma together with Harald Stein.

His achievements have been recognized through the awarding of numerous prizes:

Among others:

2001 the Salvatore Prize Lugano

2005 the José Carreras Prize of the EHA

2006 the Hamilton Fairley Award of the ESMO,

2007 the Award of the German Cancer Aid

2008 the German Federal Cross of Merit, first class

2009 the ASH Award: Pioneer of Hematology

2010 the ASH- Coulter- Award for Life Time Achievements.