FBM Lifetime Achievement Award 2023

Werner Held has been a member of the Lausanne immuno-oncology research community and a full professor at the FBM since 2011. He received on June 22nd the Lifetime Achievement Award 2023 from the Faculté de Biologie et de Médecine (FBM).  Prof. Held’s pioneering research has significantly advanced the understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying CD8 T cell mediated protection in both infection and cancer.

His discovery of stem cell-like CD8 T cells has revolutionized the field of immunology and immunooncology.

His research identified Tcf1, as a transcription factor that is crucial for the formation of long-lived CD8 T cell memory and discovered of a unique population of stem cell-like Tcf1+ CD8 T cells that sustains the immune response during chronic infection. Finally, he has shown that stem cell-like CD8 T cells are present in tumors and that they are critical for mounting a protective anti-tumor immune response upon PD-1 blockade.

His original papers reporting these observations have been among the most cited studies in the field in the last 10 years, as evidenced by more than 800 citations for the Siddiqui et al. paper published in Immunity in 2019, and numerous follow-up studies from research groups throughout the world.

Dr. Held is not only a leading research figure, but he also actively contributes to teaching and mentoring FBM students on all levels and participates in multiple committees.

His scientific achievements shaped the course of research in the field for years to come. Congratulations for this well-deserved award!