The ESMO Award for Translational Research is presented to candidates who are internationally recognised for outstanding achievements in translational research.
2024 – Serena Nik-Zainal
The 2024 ESMO Award for Translational Research will be presented to Serena Nik-Zainal at the ESMO 2024 Opening Ceremony. Nik-Zainal is Professor of Genomic Medicine and Bioinformatics and Honorary Consultant in Clinical Genetics at the University of Cambridge, UK.
At the NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre, she leads the Genomic Medicine theme, advancing the whole cancer genomics field through computational and experimental approaches to ultimately create clinical applications.
Nik-Zainal is being recognised for her outstanding research in the field of mutational signatures and her efforts to accelerate the translation of mutational signatures into the clinical domain.
Previous recipients of the award (ESMO Award for Translational Research as of 2017, previously Hamilton Fairley Award)
- Nicholas Turner, UK (2023)
- Samra Turajlic, UK (2022)
- George Coukos, Switzerland (2021)
- Antoni Ribas, USA (2020)
- Charles Swanton, United Kingdom (2019)
- Pasi A. Jänne, USA (2018)
- Alberto Bardelli, Italy (2017)
- Carlos Caldas, United Kingdom (2016)
- Cornelis Punt, The Netherlands (2015)
- Heikki Joensuu, Finland (2014)
- Roger Stupp, Switzerland (2013)
- Jean-Yves Blay, France (2012)
- Rafael Rosell, Spain (2011)
- Bengt Glimelius, Sweden (2010)
- T. Andrew Lister, United Kingdom (2009)
- Yosef Yarden, Israel (2008)
- Volker Diehl, Germany (2006)
- Bruce Ponder, United Kingdom (2004)
- Alexander Levitzki, Israel (2002)
- Piet Borst, The Netherlands (2000)
- Thomas Tursz, France (1998)
- Albert de la Chapelle, Finland (1996)
- Bertrand Coiffier, France (1994)
- Herbert Michael Pinedo, The Netherlands (1992)
- Roland Mertelsmann, Germany (1990)
- Georg Klein, Sweden (1988)
Nomination and selection process
Nominations may be made by any ESMO member (except undergraduate medical or science student members). Candidates may not nominate themselves.
Candidate eligibility criteria
- Be an individual (institutions and organisations are not eligible) who has made an impact in cancer science throughout their career and are recognised for their outstanding contribution to translational medicine, which has led to successful application in the clinic.
- Have published research results in highly cited peer-reviewed journals
- Be an oncology professional, medical or clinical oncologist
- Be an ESMO member
- Have not previously received the ESMO Award for Translational Research (the previous Hamilton Fairley Award)
- Have not received any other Award from ESMO within the last five (5) years
- Not be a current or recent (last two years) member of either the ESMO Executive Board, ESMO Council or the ESMO Nomination Committee
Final selection is made by the Selection Committee: ESMO President, ESMO President-Elect, ESMO Past-President, Chair of the ESMO Nomination Committee.