Robert Wenner Prize: Two Cancer Researchers Honoured
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The Robert Wenner Prize, which recognises scientists in the field of cancer research, is being awarded this year for the first time to two female researchers: Professor Michal Bassani-Sternberg (University of Lausanne/CHUV) and Professor Camilla Jandus (University of Geneva). The Swiss Cancer League is honouring both for their pioneering work in the field of immunotherapy.
Immunotherapy harnesses the body’s natural defences to identify and combat cancer cells in a targeted manner. Despite considerable advances, current treatments are not yet effective for all patients. Research is therefore focused on developing new approaches to make immunotherapies more effective, more personalised and accessible to a wider audience.
Advancing personalised immunotherapy
Michal Bassani-Sternberg is being recognised for her pioneering work in the field of personalised cancer immunotherapy. She has succeeded in rapidly translating an innovative approach from basic research into clinical application. Using state-of-the-art genomic and immunological methods as well as artificial intelligence, her team develops tailor-made cancer vaccines for each patient within a matter of weeks. Initial clinical trials have already yielded promising results for various types of cancer. Her research opens up new therapeutic prospects, particularly for people with rare or advanced-stage tumours.
Gaining a better understanding of the immune system
Camilla Jandus is receiving the Robert Wenner Prize for her research into the immune response to cancer. Her patient-centred work focuses on how immune cells recognise tumours and manage to combat them in the long term. In particular, her discoveries regarding the role of so-called helper cells have significantly advanced our understanding of effective immune responses against cancer. Her research has already led to several patented innovations. New cellular therapeutic approaches are about to be evaluated in clinical trials. Camilla Jandu thus combines scientific excellence with a systematic focus on the needs of people affected by cancer and their loved ones.
About the Robert Wenner Prize
The Robert Wenner Prize, which honours young scientists for outstanding work in the field of cancer research, was established thanks to a bequest from Robert Wenner, a Basel-based gynaecologist who died in 1979. Since 1983, the Swiss Cancer League has awarded the Robert Wenner Prize annually or biennially. This prize is one of the most prestigious awards for young researchers in oncology in Switzerland. In 2026, thanks to a new selection process, patients and their relatives were directly involved in choosing the winners for the first time. The winners will each receive 50,000 Swiss francs as a contribution to their ongoing research projects.
➡️ Source: Press Release | 📸 ©Swiss Cancer League. The winners of the 2026 Robert Wenner Prize: Professor Michal Bassani-Sternberg and Professor Camilla Jandus