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Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
The MHH plus Foundation has awarded Dr. Janna Heide and Prof. Dr Hartmut Goldschmidt the Zimmermann Prize and Medal.
The Johann Georg Zimmermann Research Prize and the Johann Georg Zimmermann Medal are among the most prestigious awards in the field of cancer research in Germany. Last Wednesday, the prizes were presented at Hannover Medical School (MHH) by the President, Prof. Dr. Denise Hilfiker-Kleiner: “I would like to offer my warmest congratulations to the laureates on receiving this honour. Their work impressively demonstrates how excellent research finds its way into clinical practice and opens up new treatment options for patients,” emphasised the President at the award ceremony.
Award for myeloma expert
This year, Prof. Dr Hartmut Goldschmidt was honoured with the Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Medal. The haematologist and oncologist heads the GMMG (German Speaking Myeloma Multicentre Group) study group at the Department of Haematology, Oncology and Rheumatology at Heidelberg University Hospital and at the National Centre for Tumour Diseases in Heidelberg (NCT). He is internationally recognised as a leading expert in the field of multiple myeloma.
“Multiple myeloma is a malignant disease of the bone marrow and belongs to the group of blood cancers. In this condition, abnormally altered plasma cells multiply in the bone marrow. These cells of the immune system are normally responsible for producing antibodies, but become malignant in multiple myeloma,” explained Professor Goldschmidt.
A particular focus of Professor Goldschmidt’s work lies in the close integration of clinical research and patient care. For many years, he has played a key role in the development and conduct of numerous clinical trials on multiple myeloma. The focus here is on the systematic evaluation of new therapeutic approaches and the further development of treatment strategies.
“I am delighted to receive this special award. For me, it also represents recognition of the long-standing and excellent collaboration within myeloma research and the joint efforts to advance new treatment approaches for this disease,” said Goldschmidt. Under his leadership, the GMMG has developed into one of the most important networks for clinical myeloma research in the German-speaking world. It is characterised by numerous national and international collaborations, as well as a broad portfolio of studies covering all stages of the disease.
Award for a researcher working towards more targeted cancer treatments
The Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Research Prize, worth 10,000 euros, was awarded to Dr. Janna Heide of the University Medical Centre Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). Dr. Heide is conducting research into new active substances that specifically target biological processes in the connective tissue surrounding tumours, thereby opening up new treatment options for cancer.
The award recognised her work on the development of an NNMT inhibitor as a potential new therapeutic approach for tumours associated with ovarian, breast and colorectal cancer. NNMT stands for nicotinamide N-methyltransferase, an enzyme involved in cellular metabolism which may be overactive in the connective tissue cells of tumours. An inhibitor is a substance that specifically inhibits the activity of this enzyme.
“Research into such target structures is an important step towards developing new treatment options for various types of cancer. I am particularly interested in how fundamental biological mechanisms can be translated into concrete therapeutic approaches. This award motivates me to continue advancing research into the mechanisms of tumour development, with the long-term aim of developing more targeted treatment options for patients,” said Dr. Heide.
About the Johann Georg Zimmermann Prize
The Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Prize was first awarded in 1973 and is now one of Germany’s most prestigious awards in the field of cancer research. In order to promote and recognise both early-career researchers and long-standing commitment in equal measure, the award is divided into two categories: The Research Prize honours current scientific work by early-career researchers (aged 40 or under) and comes with a cash prize of 10,000 euros. The Medal, worth 2,500 euros, is awarded to an individual who has rendered outstanding service to the fight against cancer. The Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Prize is funded by the MHH plus Foundation and awarded in collaboration with the Comprehensive Cancer Centre Lower Saxony (CCC-N).
As of this year, Prof. Dr. Hildegard Büning has served as chair of the Board of Trustees for the Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Prize. “For decades, the Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Prize has stood for scientific excellence and the promotion of innovative cancer research. This serves as the foundation for the development of innovative therapeutic approaches to improve patient care. It is impressive to see how the award recipients have contributed to this—and continue to do so—through their scientific contributions and extraordinary dedication. I am delighted to have the opportunity to support this important work on the Board of Trustees,” explained Professor Büning.
New this year was the Johann-Georg-Zimmermann Exchange Hub: Before the award ceremony, six MHH doctoral students discussed career questions with Dr. Janna Heide over lunch—ranging from study abroad experiences to career prospects at university hospitals or in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as how to deal with setbacks or perceived detours in one’s career path. The event, initiated and moderated by Professor Büning, was very well received and is planned to be repeated at the next awards ceremony if possible.
https://For further information, please contact Annika Morchner on 0511 532-8756 or at morchner.annika@mh-hannover.de
from left: Research Award winner Dr. Janna Heide (UKE), her laudator Prof. Dr. Ulf Panzer (UKE), med ...
Copyright: Annika Morchner / MHH
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transregional, national
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from left: Research Award winner Dr. Janna Heide (UKE), her laudator Prof. Dr. Ulf Panzer (UKE), med ...
Copyright: Annika Morchner / MHH
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