PI Innovation Award 2024: Nanobodies for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Applications

On July 4th, 2024, the PI Innovation Award was presented for the first time at the Faculty of Science of the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, Germany. The award recognizes outstanding doctoral theses with exceptional innovation potential. A particular focus is placed on the best possible transfer of knowledge—from research to successful application in practice. 

“We see the PI Innovation Award as additional motivation for our students, for which we are very grateful. This year, the award recognizes a thesis whose practical relevance has already led to the founding of a publicly funded start-up company,” said a delighted Prof. Dr. Thilo Stehle, Dean of the Faculty of Science.

This year's PI Innovation Award goes to Dr. Teresa Wagner, whose work deals with new diagnostics for the early detection of therapy resistance in cancer. “The practical application goes hand in hand with the high medical relevance of the work. This is exactly what convinced us,” says the jury, consisting of a panel of professors from the faculty and Dr. Steffen Schreiber, Director Global Innovation & Scouting at PI, in its statement.

In the thesis entitled “Two Birds with One Stone: Theranostic Applications of Nanobodies”, Dr. Wagner describes the production, characterization, and application of nanobodies as theranostic tools that can be used for both diagnostic and therapeutic applications in the context of precision medicine. A total of fourteen doctoral theses were submitted for the award.

PI congratulates Dr. Teresa Wagner on her excellent scientific work and on receiving the PI Innovation Award.

Contact person: Dr. Steffen Schreiber, Director Global Innovation & Scouting Global