Lena Maier-Hein wins German Cancer Award 2024

Congratulations to the winners of this year’s German Cancer Award 2024!

We are thrilled to hear that Lena Maier-Hein, Head of Intelligent Medical Systems at DKFZ, Managing Director of NCT Heidelberg & Helmholtz Imaging’s Center Coordinator at the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), won the award for translational research for her pioneering work in the development of AI-based imaging methods for oncological surgeries. Lena develops AI-based methods that offer a new type of intraoperative imaging that displays both the structure and function of tissue in real time. The use of AI could thus optimize procedures during surgery and improve treatment quality for cancer patients. Congratulations, Lena!

Congratulations also to Michaela Frye, Head of Mechanisms Regulating Gene Expression at DKFZ, on receiving the award in the category “experimental research” for her pioneering research on chemical RNA modifications that contribute to the development of cancer, metastasis, and therapy resistance.

The other award recipients are Claus Rödel, Director of the Clinic for Radiotherapy and Oncology at the University Hospital of Goethe University Frankfurt, for his internationally recognized studies on the optimization of rectal cancer therapy, and Stephanie Stock for her pioneering work on enhancing patient-centered care and improving the competence of nursing staff in oncological care. Congratulations!

Read more in the press release published by DKFZ (in German)

The German Cancer Award 2024, given by the German Cancer Society and the German Cancer Foundation, is among the hightest honors in oncology. It has been presented annually since 1986, equally divided among the categories of Experimental Research, Translational Research, and Clinical Research for outstanding work in the German-speaking area. Each category is endowed with €7,500. The German Cancer Society and the German Cancer Foundation are the patrons of the German Cancer Award.