Guarantor
Martina Benešová-Schäfer, Dr. rer. nat.
Guarantor of the Neuron Award for Connecting Science and Business
"The Neuron Award for Connecting Science and Business points to another important way in which science can be done. Alternative approaches are absolutely essential in science, and this award spreads a vital awareness of that diversity. Being the guarantor of this award is a great honour for me, and I am delighted to be able to take part in supporting exceptional science transfers and the pioneers in this field," says Martina Benešová-Schäfer, the guarantor of the honour with which Nadace Neuron rewards the transfer of science into business.
The Czech nuclear chemist Martina Benešová-Schäfer co-developed a radiopharmaceutical that makes it possible to detect and image prostate tumours. The radioactive molecule can "bind" to a cancer cell inside the patient's body, irradiate it and destroy it, without serious side effects. The radiopharmaceutical was successfully patented in 2014 and approved for clinical use in patients with prostate cancer in 2022. The drug's market value is estimated in the billions of dollars.
She studied nuclear chemistry at the Faculty of Science of Charles University. She took her doctorate in Heidelberg and a postdoctoral placement in Switzerland. She works at the German Cancer Research Center in Heidelberg.
In 2023 she became the guarantor of the Neuron Award for the transfer of a scientific patent into business.