The immunologist takes vaccine development one step further. Her research concentrates on human papillomavirus 16, which causes half of all cervical cancers and can also cause several other cancers of the genital tract and the oropharynx. As opposed to the vaccine available to date, which prevents infections with the carcinogenic viruses, the new therapeutic vaccine will also cause the immune system to recognize and eliminate cells which are already virus-infected and transformed. Angelika Riemer has developed a special method for finding out which parts of the viral proteins in infected cells are specifically recognized by the human immune system. Using these protein portions called epitopes Riemer plans to specifically activate killer cells against virus-infected, transformed cells.

Harald zur Hausen is pleased that his Nobel Prize has been the cause for this research support and he thanks Manfred Lautenschläger: “The study of virus-induced cancers promises many more exciting discoveries. New findings in this area may contribute to a better prevention of cancer in the future.”

The funding of the new working group is not the first time that Manfred Lautenschläger supports DKFZ’s work. In 2003, Professor Peter Krammer received the €250,000 Lautenschläger Research Prize; in 2008, the proceeds of the Rhine-Neckar Cycling Club’s charity tour initiated by Manfred Lautenschläger went to Dr. Stefan Pfister, a researcher of childhood brain tumors. Furthermore, at his 70th birthday celebration Manfred Lautenschläger asked his guests to refrain from presents and make a donation to DKFZ instead; the money was given to pediatric oncologist Professor Dr. Olaf Witt.

Angelika Riemer was born in 1976 in Salzburg, Austria, and studied medicine at the Universities of Vienna, Melbourne and Bristol. She received her doctoral degrees in both medicine and molecular biology with outstanding grades. She is a doctor of immunology and is currently training to become a doctor of dermatology. In 2007, she finished her postdoctoral lecture qualification in immunology. From 2008 to 2009, Angelika Riemer was a researcher at the Cancer Vaccine Center of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute/Harvard Medical School in Boston.