Archive of the Faculty of Medicine in Bochum
Here you can find older news and press releases from the Faculty of Medicine at Ruhr University Bochum.
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Guideline on Respiratory Infections in Blood Cancer Patients Updated
A new European guideline provides well-founded answers to pressing questions regarding the management of respiratory infections in patients with blood cancer. Based on insights from a decade of research, it offers a comprehensive overview of risk assessment, diagnostics, hygiene measures, treatment, and vaccination strategies – published in the renowned journal The Lancet Infectious Diseases. Individuals with leukemia and related conditions are particularly vulnerable, as their immune systems are weakened by both the disease and its treatment. For the first time, the updated recommendations systematically evaluate all relevant viruses that can cause community-acquired respiratory tract infections. The goal is to give clinicians clear guidance in everyday practice and to improve protection for those affected. Lead author of the guideline is Prof. Dr. Marie von Lilienfeld-Toal from Ruhr University Bochum, who played a key role in the European Conference on Infections in Leukemia (ECIL).
With deep sorrow, we bid farewell to Prof. Dr. med. Wolfgang Opferkuch (April 20, 1932 – September 2, 2025)
As an internationally renowned microbiologist and twice Dean of the Faculty of Medicine at Ruhr University Bochum, he shaped the faculty, the “Bochum Model,” and entire generations of researchers. Through his work on antibiotic resistance, the complement system, and Helicobacter pylori, he set standards far beyond Bochum. His legacy endures—along with the lasting marks he left through his passion and vision.
Wolff Schmiegel honored by the German Cancer Society
On the occasion of its anniversary, the German Cancer Society awarded the Ernst von Leyden Prize for the first time. The inaugural recipient is Prof. Dr. Wolff Schmiegel, emeritus director of Gastroenterology/Hepatology at UK Bergmannsheil. Schmiegel is regarded as a pioneer of evidence-based cancer therapy, and through his commitment he has significantly shaped guidelines, certifications, and the structures of modern oncology in Germany.