GBG Forschungs GmbH – a leading breast cancer research institute

GBG Forschungs GmbH is a professional institute dedicated to breast cancer research. It was founded in 2003 by Prof. Dr. med. Gunter von Minckwitz (President), who sits on the Executive Board together with Prof. Dr. med. Sibylle Loibl (Executive Vice President). The institute serves Germany’s largest breast cancer study group, the German Breast Group, as a platform for implementing academically orientated clinical trials.

Breast cancer research – independent, academic, impartial

GBG Forschungs GmbH is an independent, impartial academic research organisation (ARO). Unlike contract research organisations (CRO), we do not provide research services purely on a contract basis. All study projects have to address an academic question which meets the requirements of the German Breast Group. Through our research, we aim to continually improve the treatment of breast cancer and the quality of the therapy available on a global basis.

Independent breast cancer research – an international leader

When conducting our breast cancer research projects, we adhere to the principles of international academic study groups. Our research institute, together with the German Breast Group’s sub-boards, creates the protocols for our studies as well as our databases and is also responsible for their evaluation and publication – always without influence from the pharmaceutical industry. Examples of our research are the neoadjuvant studies belonging to the “Gepar” trial series.

Today, GBG Forschungs GmbH has clinical data from more than 35,000 breast cancer patients at its disposal. Thanks to our expertise and experience acquired through 30 years of research, we are one of the world’s leading breast cancer research institutes.

Funding of breast cancer research

Our research projects are funded in advance via clinical trials, donations, public funding, the German Cancer Aid Organisation (Deutsche Krebshilfe) and the German Research Foundation (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft). In addition, we receive funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung ─ BMBF) and from foundations, such as the Banss-Stiftung, the Walter-Schulz-Stiftung and the Claudia-von-Schilling-Stiftung, as well as cooperation partners from the pharmaceutical industry. Our Translational Research Division is predominantly funded by the EU, the German Federal Government and various foundations.