Professor Damya Laoui of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) has been awarded the 2025 GSK Vaccines Prize by the Royal Academy of Medicine of Belgium. The prize recognises her pioneering research into innovative cancer immunotherapies, particularly her work on dendritic cells. “This award is a tribute to the entire team dedicated to making immunotherapy a tangible reality,” she said.
The award ceremony will take place on Saturday 27 September 2025 during the Academy’s annual formal session. Each year, the prize is awarded to one Dutch-speaking and one French-speaking researcher who has made a significant contribution in the fields of vaccinology or immunology.
Professor Laoui is affiliated with the Brussels Center for Immunology at VUB and the VIB Center for Inflammation Research. Her research focuses on the role of specific immune cells — dendritic cells — in combating tumour metastases. She investigates how these cells can be harnessed in the development of personalised cancer vaccines.
Her work has already earned several accolades in recent years, including recognition in the MIT Innovators Under 35, Commandeur in de Kroonorde and the Prix Dunia.
The GSK Vaccines Prize not only honours scientific achievement but also societal impact. Laureates are nominated based on their contributions to medical progress in Belgium and beyond.
In addition to her research, Laoui is also active as a mentor and STEM ambassador. She advocates for greater inclusion in science and focuses on supporting early-career researchers, particularly those who face barriers to entering academic research. “We don’t conduct this research just to study cells in test tubes,” she said. “We do it to offer patients hope. Every step forward in the lab must ultimately make a difference for people outside it.”
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Yamina Krossa Fund for Breast Cancer Research
Would you like to help Professor Damya Laoui and her team (VUB and VIB) with their work? You can! The Yamina Krossa Fund for Breast Cancer Research was established specifically for Damya's research into a cancer vaccine against metastases. The fund raises the financial resources needed for Damya's clinical studies.