Short biography & main research topics

Prof. Dr. Falko Fend is an international leader in the pathology of malignant lymphomas and innovative molecular diagnostics. He heads the Institute of Pathology & Neuropathology at the University of Tübingen and the Reference Center for Hematopathology. His research focuses on the genetic and epigenetic characterization of hematological neoplasms and the development of precise diagnostic methods for rare tumors.

In the DECODE VRL study, Prof. Fend is responsible for analyzing new molecular genetic markers for vitreoretinal lymphoma (VRL), including MYD88 L265P mutations, miRNA profiles and interleukin analyses, to enable faster and more accurate diagnosis.

Scientific & clinical career

• Since 2007: Director of the Institute of Pathology, Tübingen University Hospital
• 1999 — 2007: Associate Professor of Pathology, TU Munich
• 1997 — 1999: Research fellowship at the National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda, USA
• 1991 — 1999: Pathologist at the University of Innsbruck

Prof. Fend has written over 450 publications, is involved in the WHO classification of lymphoma and is involved in leading European and German specialist associations for hematopathology and molecular oncology. Role in the DECODE VRL study

• Management of molecular biological analyses for VRL diagnostics
• Validation of innovative methods, including NGS analyses, mutation evidence & biomarker profiling
• Standardizing diagnostic protocols for integration into clinical practice

Collaborations & networks

• National Cancer Institute (NCI), NIH, Bethesda
• European Society of Pathology
• German Lymphoma Alliance

Contact

📍 Institute of Pathology & Neuropathology, Tübingen University Hospital
📧 falko.fend@med.uni-tuebingen.de
📞 +49 7071 29-82266