Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Seeger

Prof. Dr. Karlheinz Seeger is a Professor of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology at Charité — Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Germany's largest and most renowned university hospital, formed from the merger of Humboldt University and Free University Berlin's medical faculties. With over 30 years of clinical and research experience, Prof. Seeger is a recognised authority in childhood leukaemia — particularly acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer — and its molecular characterisation. He has been a cornerstone of the Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster (BFM) multicentre study group, which has produced some of the most successful paediatric leukaemia treatment protocols globally. His research on minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring has directly improved treatment stratification and survival rates for thousands of children with leukaemia worldwide.

Prof. Seeger completed his medical degree (MD) at a German university and his specialist training in paediatrics and paediatric haematology/oncology at leading German children's hospitals. He earned a doctoral degree (PhD) in paediatric haematology, focusing on molecular markers in childhood leukaemia and their clinical application. He obtained German specialist board certification (Facharzt) in Paediatric Haematology and Oncology and was subsequently appointed Professor at Charité Berlin. He has undertaken research exchanges at international centres specialising in childhood leukaemia genetics and minimal residual disease methodology.

Prof. Seeger's clinical expertise is in the diagnosis and treatment of childhood haematological malignancies — principally acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). He is an international expert in minimal residual disease (MRD) monitoring — molecular techniques (PCR, flow cytometry, next-generation sequencing) used to detect residual cancer cells after initial treatment and guide treatment intensification. His research has contributed to the understanding of genetic subtypes of childhood ALL — including ETV6-RUNX1, BCR-ABL1-like (Philadelphia chromosome-like), and hyperdiploid ALL — each requiring different treatment approaches. He coordinates stem cell transplantation referrals for high-risk and relapsed cases.

Charité Berlin is one of Europe's most respected academic medical centres and has experience treating international patients, including children with cancer referred from across Europe, the Middle East, and beyond. Prof. Seeger's department can provide second-opinion consultation for children with leukaemia who have been diagnosed abroad, reviewing pathology, cytogenetics, MRD data, and treatment protocols to offer recommendations. Berlin Tegel and Berlin Brandenburg airports provide excellent international connectivity. Consultations for international patients are arranged through Charité's international patient office, which provides coordination, translation, and accommodation guidance.

Prof. Seeger has authored over 200 peer-reviewed publications on childhood leukaemia, MRD monitoring, and paediatric oncology in journals including Blood, the Journal of Clinical Oncology, and Haematologica. He has received research funding from the German Research Foundation (DFG), the German Children's Cancer Aid (Deutsche Kinderkrebshilfe), and the German Federal Ministry of Research (BMBF). He is a long-standing investigator within the BFM international study group and has received the BFM Scientific Achievement Award. He has presented at SIOP World Congress, EHA (European Haematology Association), and ASH (American Society of Hematology) annual meetings and serves on editorial boards of paediatric oncology journals.