The rise of next generation sequencing (NGS) has opened up new opportunities for translating high-throughput genomics into clinical practice. In 2011, the DKFZ has established the Heidelberg Center for Personalized Oncology (DKFZ-HIPO), which offers a program for personalized oncology with the aim to translate latest research and technologies from the “omics” fields (genomics, transcriptomics, etc.) and systems biology/medicine into clinical practice.

The center integrates the following three areas of expertise:

• HIPO^gen – Genome Analysis (Peter Lichter),

• HIPO^sys – Computational Biology (Benedikt Brors and Roland Eils),

• HIPO^med – Precision Oncology (Stefan Fröhling and Christof von Kalle).

 The structure of DKFZ-HIPO

During the last years the center developed the infrastructure and workflows that allow for sample processing, DNA/RNA sequencing, data management and bioinformatics analyses in DKFZ-HIPO funded projects from researchers of the DKFZ in collaboration with clinical partners. The following DKFZ technology platforms partner up in the DKFZ-HIPO workflow: Sample Processing Laboratory (SPL), CHromatin And RNA Methods (CHARM) Laboratory, Single Cell Open Lab (scOpen Lab), the High-Throughput Sequencing and Microarray Units of the DKFZ Genomics and Proteomics Core Facility (DKFZ-GPCF), the Omics IT and Data Management Core Facility (DKFZ-ODCF) as well as bioinformatics teams. In addition, the sample acquisition processes involve the Pathology Department and the NCT Liquid Bank.

HIPO², the second funding period of DKFZ-HIPO, started end of 2016 and sup­ports 13 clinical projects dedicated to the implementation of personalized therapy approaches, the assessment of therapy response and resistance, and immunoprofiling. Many of these projects run according to the clinical workflow as the clinical consequences of the molecular results are discussed in Molecular Tumor Boards for novel treatment strategies.