Pragmatic Evidence Lab

Dr. Andreas Michael Schmitt is a Medical Oncologist and clinical researcher. He earned his medical degree from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and completed his internal medicine training at St. Vincenz Hospital in Mainz and University Hospital Basel, where he became board-certified in General Internal Medicine in 2020. He then specialized in Medical Oncology under Prof. Rochlitz. His research primarily focuses on evidence-based decision-making in oncology, with a particular emphasis on drug approvals and access to off-label treatments. As part of the CEIT-Cancer project, he analyzed FDA approvals for new cancer drugs, uncovering that many approvals were based on surrogate endpoints rather than demonstrated survival benefits. His work on off-label drug reimbursement in Switzerland revealed inconsistencies in funding decisions. From 2021 to 2022, Dr. Schmitt served as a Clinical Research Fellow at the Royal Marsden Hospital in London, contributing to international studies on immunotherapy for melanoma and the efficacy of COVID-19 vaccinations in cancer patients. During this time, he also developed his clinical expertise in the treatment of patients with skin and urogenital tumors, as well as the management of immune-mediated side effects. In 2024, he returned to University Hospital Basel as a Senior Physician. His current research focuses on clinical trials investigating ctDNA-based treatment strategies and improving the management of immune-related toxicities.