Rolf Kiessling receives a distinguished award for immunotherapy research
Professor Rolf Kiessling at Karolinska Institutet has been selected as the recipient of the 2025 CIMT Lifetime Achievement Award for his groundbreaking discovery of natural killer (NK) cells, which has significantly advanced our understanding of the immune response to viruses and cancer cells.
The Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT) Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a European scientist who has made significant contributions to the advancement of cancer immunotherapy research and education.
"I am extremely happy and proud of this prestigious award, both for myself and for the recognition of immunotherapy research at Karolinska Institutet,”, says Rolf Kiessling, senior professor at the Department of Oncology-Pathology.
Rolf Kiessling’s groundbreaking work over the past five decades has profoundly shaped cancer immunology. His discovery of natural killer (NK) cells in the 1970s defined them as critical components of the innate immune system.
Klas Kärre, today professor emeritus at the Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology at KI, described during his thesis in Kiessling’s group, how NK cells are triggered by the absence of self-MHC class I on the cancer cell, influencing NK cell-based immunotherapies.
The foundation for today's cancer treatments
Rolf Kiessling’s research laid the foundation for current advances in NK cell-based cancer treatments. Beyond NK cells, Rolf Kiessling’s contributions to cancer immunotherapy are substantial. They include studies on how tumors affect the immune system and how certain cells, and oxidative stress can suppress it.
Professor Kiessling’s work on different types of cancer vaccines has helped us understand how the immune system responds to cancer. He is also working on combining T cell therapies with vaccines to improve cancer treatment.
In addition to his scientific achievements, Rolf Kiessling has been a dedicated mentor and leader in the cancer immunology community. Over the course of his career, he has trained dozens of PhD students and postdoctoral fellows, many of whom have become prominent leaders in the field. His commitment to collaboration and education has helped foster the global cancer immunology community.
This article is based on a press release from CIMT.
CIMT in short
CIMT is Europe’s leading platform for education and collaboration in cancer immunotherapy. Bringing together researchers, physicians, industry, and regulatory authorities, CIMT fosters innovation and advances the field. The organization collaborates with international immunotherapy centers and research networks to drive progress.