2022 Recipients

Prof. Özlem Türeci, M.D., is a physician, immunologist, and cancer researcher with translational and clinical experience. Türeci´s research focus covers the discovery of cancer antigens as well as the research and development of mRNA-based vaccines and immunotherapies. She is co-inventor of more than 500 granted patents. Türeci is Co-Founder and Chief Medical Officer of BioNTech SE and has led the clinical development of BioNTech’s successful effort to develop a safe and effective mRNA-based vaccine against COVID-19, a historic achievement completed in less than one year. Türeci previously served as CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Ganymed Pharmaceuticals AG, which she co-founded with Prof. Ugur Şahin, M.D. and Prof. Christoph Huber, M.D. The company was acquired by Astellas in 2016. She is also a Professor for Personalized Immunotherapy at the University Medical Center Mainz and the Helmholtz Institute for Translational Oncology Mainz (HI-TRON) and currently serves as President of the Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT) in Germany. Türeci has received numerous prestigious international awards for her scientific achievements.
Photo courtesy of BioNTech SE, 2022 (photographer: Stefan Albrecht)