CRIION Joachim Frank Prize 2026 Honors Pioneers in Cancer Medicine

The CRIION Joachim Frank Prize 2026 has been awarded to outstanding researchers in cancer medicine. The winners were recognised for their contributions to improving treatments and patient outcomes. The ceremony took place with Nobel laureate Prof. Dr. Joachim Frank presenting the awards. The prize was established in 2025 by the Collaborative Research Institute Intelligent Oncology (CRIION) and the BioThera – Mertelsmann Foundation. It honours researchers whose work directly benefits cancer medicine. This year’s total prize money amounts to €25,000.

In the Biomedical Research category, Prof. Dr. Robert Zeiser received the award. His research focuses on making stem cell transplants safer and more effective for patients.

The Clinical Medicine category saw four joint winners: Prof. Dr. Jürgen Finke, PD Dr. Florian Scherer, PD Dr. Elisabeth Schorb, and Prof. Dr. Gerald Illerhaus. Their work has set new treatment standards for rare and aggressive lymphomas affecting the central nervous system. The awards highlight significant advancements in cancer research. The winners’ work offers concrete improvements in treatment methods. Their achievements were formally acknowledged at the prize ceremony.