Dr. Vera Münch

Vera is a junior project leader within the research group Leukemia at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

She holds a B.Sc. in Biology and an M.Sc. in Molecular Biology with a major in Neuroscience from the University of Heidelberg. During her studies, she received extensive training in molecular and neurobiological research, which provided her with a solid foundation in experimental biomedical sciences. Driven by a strong interest in translational cancer research, Vera pursued her PhD in Molecular Medicine at Ulm University Medical Center and gained valuable international experience through research stays in Brisbane, Australia and Padova, Italy.

Her doctoral thesis focused on pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and its infiltration into the central nervous system (CNS). CNS involvement remains a major clinical challenge in pediatric ALL, as it is associated with an increased risk of relapse and long-term treatment-related neurotoxicities. Understanding the mechanisms that enable leukemic cells to invade and persist in the CNS is essential for improving patient outcomes.

Vera has continued her research on CNS-specific vulnerabilities in pediatric ALL, initially supported by intramural funding from Ulm University and Ulm University Medical Center. In 2024, she secured independent funding through a research grant from the German Research Foundation (DFG), which now supports her ongoing project. Her work combines a broad range of molecular biology techniques with in vitro systems and in vivo modeling using patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. By uncovering CNS-specific molecular targets, she aims to contribute to the development of more effective, less neurotoxic therapies, ultimately improving long-term outcomes and quality of life for children and adolescents affected by ALL.