Award for pioneering projects

To further promote childhood cancer research, Childhood Cancer Switzerland has been awarding a research prize in the area of basic research since 2020. The prize is awarded annually for promising projects in paediatric oncology that are particularly worthy of support.
 

In 2021, the sponsorship award endowed with CHF 25,000 went to Andrea Timpanaro, a young researcher at Bern University Hospital. The aim of his innovative PhD project in the research lab of the Department for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology is to develop a novel immunotherapy (CAR-T cell therapy) for rhabdomyosarcomas. Rhabdomyosarcomas are the most common malignant soft tissue sarcomas in children and adolescents.
 

With this award, the umbrella organisation aims to honour young scientists who engage in outstanding and pioneering projects in basic research at Swiss research institutes or hospitals. This contributes to a better scientific understanding and thus to the fight against cancer.