Here are the highlights:

• Awards for Promising Studies: At the semi-annual meeting held in conjunction with the Swiss Congress of Oncology and Hematology (SOHC), five prizes and two research fellowships, totaling CHF 210,000, were awarded for promising studies in the field of clinical cancer research.
• Optimal Conditions through Partnerships: SAKK provides scientists with ideal conditions for their research projects through collaboration with industry and research partners. This includes financial support and expertise to promote independent clinical cancer research.
• Contribution to Talent Development: The collaboration between SAKK and partners makes a valuable contribution to talent development in oncology and hematology at an international top level in Switzerland.

The award ceremony at SOHC 2023 in Basel included five awards and two research fellowships, supported by pharmaceutical companies. The SAKK Awards honor researchers for outstanding achievements in various areas of cancer treatment.

Cutting-edge Work with Artificial Intelligence: The "AbbVie Award for Digital Innovation in Oncology & Hematology" recognized the research of Dr. med. Olaia Naveiras, Dr. Laurence de Leval, Dr. Sabine Blum, and Dr. Rita Sarkis from EPFL. They are enhancing the use of stroma-associated biomarkers for blood cancer using the MarrowQuant and DeepMarrow algorithms.

Support for Immunotherapy Efficiency: The "Astellas GU-Oncology" Award acknowledged the research of Dr. med. Daniela Brina and her team at USI. They identified a specific communication pathway (Sekretom) in cancer cells that influences immunotherapy efficiency and developed strategies to inhibit it.

Promotion of Mitochondrial Research: The "BMS HEM Pioneer" Grant supports Dr. Tata Nageswara Rao from Kantonsspital St. Gallen in researching mitochondria as biomarker carriers for leukemias. His work could lead to new diagnostic and therapeutic strategies

Innovative App-based Training Method: The "Expanding Horizons in Oncology" Award from Gilead recognized the project led by Prof. Dr. med. Christian Fankhauser at Luzerner Kantonsspital. The "prEPAred" app promotes the training of uro-oncologists through interactive training.

If you want to know more about the project of Prof. Dr. med. Christian Fankhauser, please follow the Link.

Research Project on Cancer Therapy Decision-making: The "Novartis Grant for Innovative Patient-Centered Projects in Oncology and Hematology" supports Dr. med. Berna Özdemir from Inselspital Bern in investigating decision-making processes in adjuvant cancer therapy.

Practical Study on Central Venous Access: The "Pfizer Prize for Patient-Oriented, Practical Clinical Cancer Research" was awarded to Dr. med. Max Rieger and his team from Unispital Zurich for their study on central venous catheters.

GIST Prize for Resistance Development in Tumors: The 13th GIST Prize was awarded to Dr. med. Johanna Falkenhorst for her research on resistance development in gastrointestinal stromal tumors. Her findings could lead to progress in the treatment of these tumors.

Congratulations to all the winners!

^{all pictures by ©photomedics}