Rent a Scientist 2026 – From patient sample to treatment: Leukemia research today
For the third time, researchers from the CATCH ALL research group at the University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein (UKSH) visited schools in and around Kiel to introduce students to their work in leukemia research. The visits took place as part of this year’s “Rent A Scientist” program, organized by KielRegion and the City of Kiel.
Rent-a-Scientist enables schools across the Kiel region to invite researchers from a wide range of scientific disciplines directly into the classroom, creating opportunities for direct exchange between scientists and students. This year, the educational initiative is part of the EU Horizon project “Science Comes To Town”, a cross-European initiative aimed at making science more accessible to the public, fostering dialogue between science and society, and inspiring young people to engage with scientific topics and career opportunities.
Representing the CATCH ALL research group, Dr. Sophie Steinhäuser, PhD candidate Anne Anglet, and Dr. Alina M. Hartmann visited the Gymnasium Kronshagen and the Isarnwohld School in Gettorf. During interactive sessions, the researchers from UKSH provided students in grades 11 and 12 with insights into their work on Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). At the beginning of each session, students had the opportunity to step into the role of researchers themselves. Using microscopic images of blood samples, they learned how to distinguish healthy blood cells from leukemia cells and explored the characteristic changes in blood cell composition associated with leukemia. The exercise highlighted the importance of accurate diagnostics as a foundation for effective treatment decisions.
The students were then introduced to modern approaches in cancer research. The researchers explained how blood samples are processed and analyzed in the laboratory and demonstrated how molecular biology techniques can be used to investigate gene activity in cancer cells. Such analyses allow researchers to identify distinct disease subtypes and support the development of more personalized treatment strategies. Another focus of the sessions was the analysis of large-scale biological datasets. Students learned how bioinformatics methods are applied to process complex genetic information and generate new insights into leukemia biology. These approaches help researchers to better understand disease mechanisms and contribute to the development of more precise therapies in the future.
In addition to the scientific content, the sessions also emphasized personal exchange and career orientation. Students were encouraged to ask questions about the researchers’ educational backgrounds, career paths, and daily work in science. The discussions provided valuable insights into the wide range of professions within medical research and the many different routes that can lead to a career in science.
The research group “CATCH ALL – Towards a Cure for All Adults and Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)” is funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Organized within the University Cancer Center Schleswig-Holstein (UCCSH) and the Kiel Oncology Network (KON), the clinical research group brings together clinicians and basic scientists from multiple disciplines to develop new precision medicine approaches for ALL patients of all ages.
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Text: Sophie Steinhäuser
