Helmut Salih receiving the DKFZ Innovation Award 2026

🎉Congratulations to our iFIT member Prof. Dr. Helmut Salih on receiving the DKFZ German Cancer Research Center Innovation Award 2026!
🪙The German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) honored Helmut Salih for his outstanding contributions to the development of innovative cancer immunotherapies. As Head of the Clinical Cooperation Unit for Translational Immunology at the German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and Professor of Translational Immunology at the Universitätsklinikum Tübingen, his research focuses on harnessing the body's immune system to recognize and eliminate cancer cells more effectively.
🧬A particular focus of his work is the development of novel bispecific antibodies that simultaneously bind tumor cells and T cells, enabling highly targeted anti-cancer immune responses. His team has successfully advanced several of these therapeutic candidates from laboratory research into clinical trials, including approaches for acute myeloid leukemia, prostate cancer and other solid tumors. Beyond this, he is pioneering next-generation antibody formats designed not only to recruit immune cells to tumors but also to provide additional activation signals. This is intended to make the immune response both stronger and more targeted.
💊DKFZ highlights Helmut Salih's ability to bridge fundamental research, drug development, clinical testing and successful spin-offs to accelerate the delivery of innovative therapies to patients.
🖼️The photograph accompanying the DKFZ announcement also features Stephanie Houwaart, recipient of the DKFZ Patient Expert Award 2026. She was recognized for her longstanding and impactful commitment to strengthening patient involvement in cancer research.
👏Congratulations to Helmut Salih and Stephanie Houwaart on these well-deserved recognitions.
📰 DKFZ press release
📸 Sabine Arndt/DKFZ