Arndt Borkhardt - Biography#

Arndt Borkhardt has an extensive track record of high-quality scientific contributions to the field of pediatric oncology, hematology and immunology, focussing on genetics and mechanisms of childhood leukemogenesis, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

As a PI or co-Investigator, Arndt Borkhardt has successfully coordinated and carried out large collaborative international research projects and developed an effective method to screen for translocations in newborns. He established strong ties with international groups working on childhood leukemia and the analysis of environmental factors that promote leukemogenesis.

His pioneering work on the link between infections and childhood leukemia was published and highlighted in leading scientific journals (including Nature, Nature Reviews Cancer, Cancer Discovery, Blood, Leukemia). Primary scientific contributions are the discovery of the causal role of the exposure to infections in the development of childhood leukemia and the interdependence of the cellular metabolism and the susceptibility to childhood leukemia. He has demonstrated that a large number of healthy newborns (>5%) carry the genetic predisposition to develop leukemia. He has published important contributions to the genetics and mechanisms of childhood cancer and suggested new treatment options based on multi-omics analyses of treatment resistant leukemia. In recent contributions he provided evidence for the preventable nature of childhood leukemia.

Arndt Borkhardt's full list of publications

He is also a member of numerous international scientific societies, Editorial Boards and reviewer for many journals and funding agencies. Arndt Borkhardt organized several scientific events, including 2 EMBO workshops on childhood leukemia (2024 in Germany, 2019 in Spain) the EHA Pediatric Courses and CLLS Symposia.

Being the chairman of the international I-BFM-Study Groups, which is the leading organization dedicated to advancement of research and medical care for children and adolescents with leukemia and lymphoma, he legally established I-BFM-SG as registered organization under German law in Mai 2024, with the aim of obtaining a non-profit status in 2025. More information on I-BFM SG