Ton Schumacher was bestowed the 2024 ESMO Award for Immuno-Oncology
The ESMO Award for Immuno-Oncology 2024 was presented to Ton N. Schumacher in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field of cancer immunology.
Schumacher, a leading figure in cancer research, is a Principal Investigator at The Netherlands Cancer Institute and Oncode Institute, and a Professor of Immunotechnology at Leiden University, Netherlands.
Schumacher’s pioneering research focuses on developing novel technologies to measure and manipulate T cell responses, which has deepened our understanding of how T cells can recognize and target human cancer cells. Among his key contributions are his groundbreaking studies on cancer neoantigens—which arise from DNA damage in cancer cells—and his influential work on neoadjuvant immune checkpoint blockade, a now widely explored therapeutic strategy in immuno-oncology.
He will deliver his award lecture at the ESMO Immuno-Oncology Congress 2024 on Wednesday, 11 December 2024, during the Opening Session.
“In a way, our findings show that the immune response in cancer patients can be strengthened; there is more on the cancer cells that makes them foreign that we can exploit.”
Dr. Schumacher is also known for developing advanced techniques that significantly enhance our ability to identify and monitor anti-cancer T cell responses, both before and after treatment. His work has had a profound impact on the field, particularly in the area of immune checkpoint blockade and neoantigen discovery, crucial for advancing cancer immunotherapy.
Throughout his career, Dr. Schumacher has received numerous prestigious awards, including the 2016 William B. Coley Award for Distinguished Research in Tumor Immunology, and he was elected to the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in recognition of his exceptional contributions to the field.
Schumacher has also received some other awards, including the Queen Wilhelmina Cancer Research Award, Meyenburg Cancer Research Award, William B. Coley Award, and the Louis Jeantet Prize for Medicine, recognizing his significant impact on cancer immunotherapy.
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