Dr. Tinhofer-Keilholz did her studies of biology at the University of Innsbruck, Austria. After graduation she worked at the Department of Hematology and Oncology at the Medical University Innsbruck. In 2006 she habilitated for Immunology / Tumor Immunology at the University Hospital Salzburg where she worked as group leader and chair of the Laboratory for Immunological and Molecular Cancer Research. Since 2008 she is head of the translational research laboratory of the Department of Radiooncology and Radiotherapy at the Charité, Berlin, Germany.

Her research interest focuses mainly on the elucidation of the molecular mechanisms which render HNSCC cells resistant to radiotherapy, chemotherapy and targeted treatment. By in-depth characterization of preclinical models and patient material from clinical trials she is aiming at the development of biomarkers for improved patient stratification and personalized treatment.

From 2008 to 2020, she coordinated the research activities of the Charité Comprehensive Cancer Center Working Group Head and Neck Cancer. From 2015 to 2022, she had been the Translational Research Representative from the EORTC HNC Group and since 2020 she is member of the ESMO Faculty (HNC Group). She serves as reviewer for Scientific Reports, Lancet Oncology, Oncotarget, Clinical Cancer Research, Annals of Surgical Oncology, Annals of Oncology, Cancer, European Journal of Cancer, BMC Cancer, International Journal of Cancer and Frontiers in Oncology.