Awards Ceremony Professor Dr Max Cloëtta Foundation: Profs Ablasser and Alimonti

On behalf of the Foundation Board of the Prof. Dr. Max Cloëtta Foundation, we are pleased to
invite you to the 51st Cloëtta Prize ceremony.

The Cloëtta Prize 2024 is awarded to:

Andrea Ablasser
Professor Ablasser's research has been groundbreaking in uncovering how the innate immune
system detects and responds to DNA from pathogens. Her work has opened new avenues for
the development of therapies aimed at modulating the immune response, offering potential
treatments for a variety of diseases.
Recently, her studies have demonstrated how the cGAS-STING DNA-sensing pathway is involved
in chronic inflammation and neurodegenerative diseases related to the aging process.
These findings could lead to new strategies for combating these conditions.

Andrea Alimonti
The major scientific contributions of Professor Alimonti's research include the discovery of a
therapeutic approach based on the induction of cellular senescence and the immune response
against tumors; the identification of an immune cell type, the so-called myeloid-derived suppressor
cells, which can promote the progression of prostate cancer and resistance to standard therapies;
and the discovery of a novel mechanism of therapy resistance in prostate cancer, involving
the gut microbiome. Professor Alimonti's vision is to develop cutting-edge, innovative treatments
for cancer patients. Some of these treatments are currently being tested in clinical trials.

Program
Musical Prelude
Overture: Prof. Fritjof Helmchen / Institute for Brain Research, University of Zurich / Chairman of the Foundation Board
Welcome adress: Prof. Andrew Oates / Dean of the School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne
Laudatio: Prof. Franco Cavalli / Oncology Research Institute, IOR, Bellinzona
Presentation of the prize to: Prof. Andrea Alimonti / Oncology Research Institute, IOR, Bellinzona / Experimental Oncology and Translational Oncology Medicine, ETH Zurich /
Faculty of Biomedical Sciences, USI, Lugano
Prize-winner's presentation: ‘Role of cellular senescence in cancer and cancer therapy’.
Musical interlude
Laudatio: Prof. Didier Trono / School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne /
Presentation of the prize to:  Prof. Andrea Ablasser / School of Life Sciences, EPFL, Lausanne
Presentation by the prizewinner: ‘Immune sensing DNA as a danger signal’.
Musical closing