Stephanie Otto

Stephanie Otto, Ph.D., MSc.

University career

• Since 2024: Visiting Professorship at Universidad Fundación H.A. Barceló, Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Since 2019: Senior Scientist (Post Doc), Exercise Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm (CCCU), University Hospital Ulm
• 2015 – 2019: Head of Sports Science (Rehabilitation), Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Exercise Oncology, Project Management
• 2013 – 2019: Research Associate, Division of Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Exercise Oncology, Project management
• 2010 – 2013: Research Associate, Head of Exercise Oncology, Cancer Center North, University Medical Center Schleswig – Holstein (UKSH), Exercise Oncology, Project management

Therapeutic experience

• 1992 – 2009: Head of the Exercise Oncology/ Physiotherapy/Recreation team and Integrative Medicine therapies (Yoga, Tai Chi Chuan, Dance Therapy, Art Therapy etc.), Rehabilitation Clinic Scheidegg, Germany

Present position

• Since 2019 Senior Scientist (Post Doc), Exercise Oncology Service at the Comprehensive Cancer Center Ulm, CCCU, University Hospital Ulm
  Head of OnkoAktiv Ulm, CCCU

Academic Education

• 2018: Dissertation in Human Biology (Dr. biol. hum.), University of Ulm
  PhD Thesis (magna cum laude): Effects of high-intensity strength/endurance training (HIRT/HIT) on BRCA1 gene expression in muscle and BRCA1 protein biosynthesis of BRCA mutation carriers. Open Access Repository of the University of Ulm.
  Dissertation. doi.org/10.18725/OPARU-8310
• 1992: Diploma in Sport Science (Dipl. Sport Science), German Sport University Cologne, 2nd European study in Exercise Oncology (breast cancer)

Roles/ Membership

• Nominated: Board of Directors of Fascia Research Society (FRS)
• Scientific Board International FRS (SPC, Task Force Leader Fascia in Oncology)
• International Society of Exercise Oncology or ISEO (active member)
• European Health Future Forums EHFF (active member, Domain Expert)
• German Cancer Society DKG (AGSMO Group, AGORS Group, PRIO group, registered expert)
• National Expert Group Exercise and Physical Activity in Oncology NEBKO (active member)
  Speaker: NEBKO – hematology board
• European Association of Cancer Research EACR (active member)
• European Fascia Research Exchange Group (active member)
• Society of Integrative Oncology (SIO) Europe (active member)
• American Association for Cancer Research AACR (active member)
• Network KOKON (Integrative Oncology)
• Network ActiveOncoKids (Member)
• International Prehabilitation Society (active member)
• Global Health Hub Germany (active member)

Scientific Advisory Board

• Scientific Program Committee (SPC) Fascia Research Society (FRS) Conference 2025, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA
• Scientific Review Committee (SRC) SIO (Society for Integrative Oncology) Europe 2025, Oxford, UK
• Scientific Program Committee (SPC) IKMO 2025, International Conference on Prehabilitation, Warsaw, Poland

Grants, awards, and scholarships

• Mobility grant for research visit and visiting professorship at Instituto Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud Fundación H.A Barceló, Buenos Aires, Argentina, 05-06-2024
• Grant FABER-Stiftung (2024): € 15.000
• Travel grant: ProTrainU, Ulm University, Fascia Research Society Congress 2022, Montreal
• Scholarship: Society for Integrative Oncology (SIO), September 14-16, 2023, Banff, Alberta, Canada
• Charity events: Rowing against cancer (2010-2018): € 150.000
• Poster prize: Third place Poster Award at 2. Prehabilitation World Conference 2018 in Eindhoven

Nomination

Nominated for the Young investigator award at Ulm University (2022)

Funding/ Grants: € 171.500
Journal referee:  Frontiers in Physiology, Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, Supportive Cancer Care, Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise (MSSE), BMJ Open Quality, International Journal of Cancer, DZSM-German Journal of Sports Medicine, Breast Care-Karger, Oncology Research and Treatment

Publications:
1.Otto S, Ngo AT, Schadler K, Klingler W. Physical Activity and the Neuro-Immuno-Fascial Interface in Cancer Patients: Mechanisms, Evidence, and Therapeutic Integration. Front Oncol, Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention, Fundamentals of Integrative Oncology – The Next Frontier in Cancer Care (special edition, invited, in peer review). 2026
2.Otto S, Klingler W. Is there a link between fascia and cancer? From potential mechanisms to future treatment options. Front Physiol, Sec. Exercise Physiology (special edition, invited, accepted for publication). 2026
3.Vogele D, Mueller T, Wolf D, Otto S, Manoj S, Goetz M, et al. Applicability of the CT Radiomics of Skeletal Muscle and Machine Learning for the Detection of Sarcopenia and Prognostic Assessment of Disease Progression in Patients with Gastric and Esophageal Tumors. Diagnostics (Basel). 2024;14(2).
4.Kühl R, Pahl A, Limbach M, Wegener A, Bertz H, Wiskemann J, Otto S. Training in der Hämatoonkologie. B&G Bewegungstherapie und Gesundheitssport. 2024;40(05):212-26.
5.Vogele D, Otto S, Sollmann N, Haggenmuller B, Wolf D, Beer M, et al. Sarcopenia – Definition, Radiological Diagnosis, Clinical Significance. Rofo. 2023.
6.Raff C, Dörr-Harim C, Otto S, Thiele J, Mihaljevic A, Kramer K. Prehabilitation in an Integrative Medicine Day Clinic for Patients Undergoing Neoadjuvant Treatment: Single-Center Feasibility Pilot Study. JMIR Res Protoc. 2023;12:e46765.
7.Volz S, Koch F, Dayan D, Upadhyay M, Otto S, Schochter F, et al. Is there evidence behind pre- or perioperative cognitive training in gynaecological patients on the prevention of perioperative cognitive dysfunction? A review. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2022;306(4):937-42.
8.Schulz SVW, Schumann U, Otto S, Kirsten J, Treff G, Janni W, et al. Two-year follow-up after a six-week high-intensity training intervention study with breast cancer patients: physiological, psychological and immunological differences. Disabil Rehabil. 2022;44(17):4813-20.
9.Volz S, Koch F, Dayan D, Upadhyay M, Otto S, Schochter F, et al. Is there evidence behind pre- or perioperative cognitive training in gynaecological patients on the prevention of perioperative cognitive dysfunction? A review. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2021.
10.Schutze S, Hohlfeld B, Friedl TWP, Otto S, Kraft K, Hancke K, et al. Fishing for (in)continence: long-term follow-up of women with OASIS-still a taboo. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2021;303(4):987-97.
11.Bizjak DA, Schulz SVW, Schumann U, Otto S, Kirsten J, Ebner F, et al. Beneficial Molecular Adaptations In BRCA-Mutation Carriers By Combined HIT/HIRT Intervention: Results From A Pilot Study. Cancers (Basel). 2020;12(6).
12.Cheville A, Baima J, Chang P, Mitchell C, Otto S, Oza S, et al. Policy and reimbursement considerations for exercise programming in cancer. Exercise Oncology: Prescribing Physical
Activity Before and After a Cancer Diagnosis: Springer International Publishing Cham; 2020. p. 405-27.
13.Otto S, de Gregorio N, Volz S, Janni W, de Gregorio A, Steinacker JM, et al. Sport- und Bewegungsempfehlung nach Brustrekonstruktion: Erste Ergebnisse einer Online-Befragung und Erfahrungen aus der Praxis. B&G Bewegungstherapie und Gesundheitssport. 2019;35(04):202-9.
14.Otto S, Kirsten J, Persch H, Wais V, Bunjes D, Steinacker J, editors. Are there any Limitations in Body Composition and Body Function prior to an Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation, or is there already a Sarcopenia (EWGSOP2)? ONCOLOGY RESEARCH AND TREATMENT; 2019: KARGER
15.Schulz SVW, Laszlo R, Otto S, Prokopchuk D, Schumann U, Ebner F, et al. Feasibility and effects of a combined adjuvant high-intensity interval/strength training in breast cancer patients: a single-center pilot study. Disabil Rehabil. 2018;40(13):1501-8.
16.Ebner F, Schulz SVW, de Gregorio A, Volz S, Steinacker JM, Janni W, Otto S. Prehabilitation in gynecological surgery? What do gynecologists know and need to know. Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2018;297(1):27-31.
17.Otto S, Schumann U, Schulz S, Andreß S, Graf T, Trájer E, et al. Hoch-intensives Kraft-/Ausdauertraining erhöht die antioxidative Kapazität im Muskel von BRCA Mutationsträgern (BIJOU-Studie). Senologie-Zeitschrift für Mammadiagnostik und-therapie. 2017;14(02):A96.
18.Prokopchuk O, Steinacker JM, Nitsche U, Otto S, Bachmann J, Schubert EC, et al. IL-4 mRNA Is Downregulated in the Liver of Pancreatic Cancer Patients Suffering from Cachexia. Nutr Cancer. 2017;69(1):84-91.
19.Qiu S, Cai X, Ju C, Sun Z, Yin H, Zugel M, et al. Step Counter Use and Sedentary Time in Adults: A Meta-Analysis. Medicine (Baltimore). 2015;94(35):e1412.

Book chapters:
Otto S (2022) The Role of Fascia in Oncology. In: Schleip R, Stecco C, Driscoll M, Huijing P.A. (Eds.) Fascia: The Tensional Network of the Human Body: The science and clinical applications in manual and movement therapy, 2nd edition. Elsevier.
Cheville A. et al. (2020) Policy and Reimbursement Considerations for Exercise Programming in Cancer. In: Schmitz K. (eds) Exercise Oncology. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-42011-6_20

Books:
Weis, J., Horneber, M. & Otto, S. (2023). Tumorassoziierte Fatigue (1. Auflage). Springer Berlin Heidelberg

More information on activities and research:
www.researchgate.net/profile/Stephanie_Otto2
www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-otto-7b5852165/

Innovation for sustainable cancer care addressing urgent workforce shortages
Vintura 2023. Innovation for Sustainable Cancer Care
addressing-urgent-workforce-shortages.pdf (efpia.eu)