Lower Austrian Science Awards 2026

This year, the group “Translational Radiobiology” led by Prof. Dr. Dea Slade, PhD, was honored with the Recognition Award. The research group from the Medical University of Vienna, based at our facility, investigates whether particle therapy is more effective than conventional X-ray radiotherapy for cancer types associated with poor survival outcomes. Numerous scientific publications, as well as the identification of more effective irradiation techniques, immune-activating drugs that enhance the body’s response against cancer cells, and novel biomarkers, have now led to this recognition.

In addition, Luca Lippert, MSc received the Science Future Award for his master’s thesis entitled “Radiation-induced immunogenicity in glioblastoma.” His research demonstrated for the first time that combining hypofractionated radiotherapy with inhibition of the enzyme PARP7 increases the production of immune-activating signaling molecules and thereby effectively activates immune cells.

We warmly congratulate both award recipients on their outstanding achievements.