Sarah Haggenmüller
has been a research associate in the Skin Classification Project in the Digital Biomarkers for Oncology Junior Research Group at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg since completing her Master of Advanced Management (M.Sc.) at HNU.
Her recent publication, based on data from her master's thesis, has been published by JMIR Mhealth Uhealth - a leading journal in the field of digital health and health services research: Haggenmüller et al. Digital Natives' Preferences on Mobile Artificial Intelligence Apps for Skin Cancer Diagnostics: Survey Study (opens in a new window). JMIR Mhealth Uhealth 2021;9(8):e22909.
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With commitment and a spirit of discovery in the fight against cancer
Cancer is the second most common cause of death worldwide - one in four deaths in Germany in 2019 was due to cancer. However, the enormous medical advances of recent years have meant that a large number of those affected now survive cancer; not least thanks to novel possibilities offered by artificial intelligence (AI) in medicine and, in particular, in the field of diagnostics.
For Sarah Haggenmüller, who graduated from HNU with a Master of Advanced Management (M.Sc.), the fight against cancer is a matter close to her heart, to which she would like to make a decisive contribution with her research work. "Ever since my youth, the topic of cancer has accompanied me. At the age of 38, my father unexpectedly developed cancer. For me, this was not only a shock, but also the beginning of a fascination - a fascination with cancer medicine," the HNU alumna recounts. "Thanks in no small part to innovative treatment approaches, my father won his battle against cancer. For me, it was clear from that day on: I, too, would like to make a difference in this field."
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Artificial intelligence: a driver of skin cancer diagnostics
Haggenmüller already worked on her current focus - research into AI-based skin cancer diagnostic systems - as part of her master's thesis with HNU Prof. Dr. Sascha Fabian (opens in a new window). Entitled "Artifical Intelligence for Early Skin Cancer Detection," she addressed the fundamental potential of AI for skin cancer diagnostics and relevant endpoints for the development of patient-centric, mobile AI applications. Two questions drove the current research associate: Does AI offer opportunities for a better and faster diagnostic process in early skin cancer detection? And to what extent are screening participants willing to accept AI-based solutions in dermatology?
When I'm not doing research/work, then ...
... I am enthusiastic about sports and distant countries. That's why I want to travel the world - at least once on every continent.
My current reading:
"When the Fist of the University Strikes" by Dr. Johannes Wimmer.
My field of expertise in three words:
patient-centered - innovative - practice-oriented.
My next publication will ...
... focus even more on the voice of patients.
Scientific work/promotion is ...
... for me not only a profession, but a vocation: doing research together for a life without cancer is a matter close to my heart.
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Springboard HNU: From Master's Degree to Doctorate
"The family atmosphere at HNU, the close supervisory relationship and the personal support that comes with it made it possible for me to do the new and unusual in a classic management master's degree and to write a master's thesis with a strong interdisciplinary focus," explains Haggenmüller, who was supported throughout her studies by the German National Academic Foundation, from which she also currently receives a doctoral scholarship. "For me, this was the stepping stone to realizing my long-awaited professional dream."
That stepping stone has since led the HNU alumna to the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, where she is a research associate in the Digital Biomarkers for Oncology Junior Research Group's Skin Classification project. The BMG-funded project is developing smart algorithms to aid in melanoma diagnostics - exactly the field of research Haggenmüller was already passionate about in her senior thesis. "We are working on testing an AI-based diagnostic assistance system for its usefulness in dermatological practice," explains Haggenmüller. "In particular, I am responsible for including the patient perspective, the statistical evaluation of the results, and the central study coordination with the eight participating university skin clinics in Germany."
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Cancer research: For the HNU alumna not only a profession, but also a vocation
And where should her further leaps lead? The next step is the successful completion of her doctorate (Dr. sc. hum.), says Haggenmüller. She also plans to publish more papers in high-ranking journals. For her, however, the fight against cancer is not just a profession, but a vocation: she would also like to work on promising and interdisciplinary projects in (skin) cancer research in the long term.
