University Hospital Heidelberg – Germany
About Prof. Jurgen Debus
Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus is the Medical Director of the Department of Radiation Oncology and the Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT) at Heidelberg University Hospital. With over 36 years of experience and dual qualifications in medicine and physics, he is internationally recognised as one of the best Radiation Oncology doctors in Germany.
- 36+ years of clinical experience in Radiation Oncology
- Director of one of the world’s leading radiation oncology centres — treats 4,500+ patients annually
- 1,500+ scientific publications
- Medical Director of HIT — Europe’s first carbon-ion / proton therapy centre
- Recipient of the Erwin Schrödinger Award (German Science Society) and Philipps Award for Medical Physics
- Pioneer of proton, carbon-ion, and MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy
Qualifications & Credentials
Medical Degrees
- Medical & Physics Studies — University of Heidelberg, Germany, 1984
- Graduation in Biophysics & Medical Radiation Physics — German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 1988
- PhD in Physics — University of Heidelberg, Germany, 1991
- MD (Dr. med.) — University of Heidelberg, Germany, 1993
- Habilitation in Medicine — Faculty of Medicine, University of Heidelberg, Germany, 1997
Fellowships & Special Training
- Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology — University of Heidelberg, 1997
- Specialist training in Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy
- Specialist training in Palliative Medicine
Certifications & Accreditations
- German Medical Council Registration
- Member — Scientific Council of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
- Member — German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO)
- Member — European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
- Member — American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO)
- Member — German Cancer Society (DKG)
- Member — Federal Joint Committee (Gemeinsamer Bundesausschuss)
- Member — Proton Committee, German Radiation Protection Commission
Areas of Expertise
Major Conditions Treated
- Brain Tumours (Glioma, Meningioma, Glioblastoma, Pilocytic Astrocytoma)
- Skull Base Tumours (Chordoma, Chondrosarcoma)
- Salivary Gland Cancer (Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma)
- ENT & Paranasal Carcinomas
- Lung Cancer
- Pancreatic & Hepatobiliary Cancer
- Prostate Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Pediatric Cancers (with anaesthesia support)
- Sarcoma (Bone & Soft Tissue)
Sub-specialties
- Particle Therapy (Proton & Carbon Ion): Medical Director of HIT — Europe's first integrated proton/carbon-ion therapy centre treating 1,300+ patients annually — a leading Radiation Oncology specialist in Heidelberg, Germany.
- Image-Guided & MR-Guided Adaptive Radiotherapy: Pioneer in MR-Linac hybrid technology for real-time tumour tracking — recognised among the best Radiation Oncology doctors in Germany.
- Stereotactic Radiosurgery (CyberKnife): Specialist in high-precision radiosurgery for brain and body tumours without general anaesthesia.
Advanced Procedures & Treatments
- Proton Beam Therapy
- Carbon Ion Therapy (Heavy Ion Therapy)
- Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT)
- Image-Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT)
- Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy (VMAT)
- Tomotherapy (2 dedicated units)
- CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery
- MR-Linac Adaptive Radiotherapy
- Intraoperative Radiotherapy (IORT)
- Brachytherapy
- Gated Therapy for Moving Tumours (Lung, Upper Abdomen)
List of Disease and Treatment for which Prof. Jurgen Debus can be consulted
Professional Experience
Current Affiliation
- Heidelberg University Hospital (Universitätsklinikum Heidelberg), Heidelberg, Germany — Medical Director, Department of Radiation Oncology and Radiation Therapy; Medical Director, Heidelberg Ion-Beam Therapy Center (HIT) (Present)
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany — Head, Clinical Cooperation Unit Radiation Oncology (Present)
- Marburg Ion Therapy Centre (MIT), Marburg, Germany — Managing Director (Present)
Past Affiliations
- University of Heidelberg, Germany — Associate Professor of Radiation Oncology, 1997
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) — Researcher, Department of Biophysics & Medical Radiation Physics, 1988
Academic & Research Roles
- Director, Heidelberg Institute for Radiation Oncology (HIRO)
- Member — Research Committee, University Hospital Heidelberg
- Member — Scientific Council for Clinical and Basic Research, German Cancer Aid (Krebshilfe)
- Author of 1,500+ peer-reviewed publications
Key Achievements
- 36+ years of dedicated experience in Radiation Oncology and Medical Physics
- Director of one of the world's largest and most modern radiation oncology centres (4,500+ patients/year)
- Co-founder and Medical Director of HIT — Europe's first proton/carbon-ion therapy centre (opened 2009)
- 1,500+ scientific publications
- Pioneer in MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy
Awards & Recognitions
National & International Awards
- Erwin Schrödinger Award — German Science Society
- Philipps Award for Medical Physics
- Multiple national and international honours for contributions to ion-beam therapy
Professional Memberships
- German Society for Radiation Oncology (DEGRO)
- European Society for Radiotherapy and Oncology (ESTRO)
- American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO)
- German Cancer Society (DKG)
- Scientific Council of the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ)
Research & Publications
Published Papers (Selected)
- Debus J, et al. Lead author and senior author on multiple landmark publications in proton and carbon ion therapy. Full citation list (1,500+ publications) available via PubMed and Heidelberg University.
- Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and Carbon Ion Only Irradiation (ACCO Study) — Principal Investigator at the Department of Radiation Oncology, Heidelberg.
Ongoing Research & Clinical Interests
- Tumour treatment with high-energy ultrasound, proton therapy, and carbon-ion therapy
- Conformal treatment techniques using photons and ion beams
- MR-guided adaptive radiotherapy
- Treatment of moving tumours via gated therapy
- Translational radiation oncology and clinical trials
Estimated Treatment Costs
| Procedure / Consultation | Estimated Cost (EUR) | Estimated Cost (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Radiation Oncology Consultation | €300 – €600 | $325 – $650 |
| IMRT / VMAT (Full Course) | €10,000 – €25,000 | $10,800 – $27,000 |
| Proton Therapy (Full Course) | €35,000 – €70,000 | $38,000 – $76,000 |
| Carbon Ion Therapy (Full Course) | €45,000 – €85,000 | $48,500 – $92,000 |
| CyberKnife Stereotactic Radiosurgery | €18,000 – €35,000 | $19,500 – $38,000 |
| MR-Linac Adaptive Radiotherapy | €20,000 – €45,000 | $21,600 – $48,500 |
*Indicative estimates only. Actual costs subject to hospital pricing, case complexity, and insurance. Contact Cancer Rounds for a personalised quote.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What advanced technologies does Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus use in Radiation Oncology treatment?
Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus employs the latest evidence-based tools and minimally invasive techniques relevant to Radiation Oncology. Virtual consultations and remote second opinions are also available to international patients. Contact Cancer Rounds for a detailed technology overview specific to your case.
2. What conditions does Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus specialize in treating?
Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus is a specialist in Radiation Oncology, treating a broad spectrum of conditions in this field — including both common presentations and complex, rare cases. International patients seek treatment for conditions requiring expert Radiation Oncology care in Heidelberg, Germany.
3. How do I book an appointment with Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus?
Appointments with Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus can be booked directly through the Cancer Rounds website or by contacting their international patient department for priority scheduling.
4. Can international patients receive treatment from Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus?
Yes. Cancer Rounds provides full assistance for international patients seeking treatment from Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus, including medical visa invitation letters, airport transfers, and local accommodation coordination.
5. What support is available for international patients?
International patients benefit from a dedicated concierge service provided by Cancer Rounds, including language interpretation, financial counselling, and pre-travel virtual consultations to review medical records before arrival.
6. Does Prof. Dr. Dr. Jürgen Debus offer second opinions for Radiation Oncology cases?
Yes. Second opinion consultations can be arranged via Cancer Rounds for patients who wish to review their diagnosis or treatment plan with an expert Radiation Oncology specialist in Heidelberg, Germany.
University Hospital Heidelberg - Germany
