Professor at the Faculty of Biology and Medicine of the University of Lausanne, Switzerland, Head of the Department of Oncology of Lausanne University Hospital, and Director of Ludwig Cancer Research Lausanne Branch, Dr George Coukos, was awarded the title of doctor honoris causa of the Department of Medicine of the NKUA’s School of Health Sciences.
The awarding ceremony took place on Monday, 13 January 2025, at 19:00, at the Great Hall of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens.
Addressing the honouree was the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos.
It was Professor of Anatomic Pathology at the Department of Medicine of the University of Athens, Dr Periklis Foukas, who presented the work and personality of the honouree.
Then, the Chair of the Department of Medicine, Professor Nikolaos Arkadopoulos, read the Department’s Resolution, the Award, and the Honorary Diploma.
Immediately afterwards, the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, invested the honouree with the gown of the School of Health Sciences.
The ceremony concluded with the honouree, Dr George Coukos, delivering a speech entitled: ‘Development of Personalized T Cell Therapy for Solid Tumours’.
In his address to the honouree, the Rector of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Professor Gerasimos Siasos, said, among other things, the following: ‘Dr Coukos is Professor of Oncology, Head of the Department of Oncology of Lausanne University Hospital, and Director of Ludwig Cancer Research Lausanne Branch.
His contribution to tumour immunology is significant.
His seminal study in 2003, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlighted the spontaneous anti-tumour response in ovarian cancer, opening up new horizons for understanding solid tumours. This study has inspired many scientific teams around the world, leading them to work towards impressive research and therapeutic results.
His laboratory has contributed enormously to our understanding of how tumours exploit regulatory T cells to suppress immune responses. In addition, he has actively participated in developing novel immunotherapies—including dendritic cell vaccines—and thus brought attention to fresh treatment strategies.
All these efforts led to international collaborations and clinical trials, offering hope to thousands of patients worldwide.
As the initiator of an integrated European cancer facility called “The Agora Cancer Centre”, Dr. Coukos fosters innovation and cooperation between clinical and laboratory research. Inspired by the ancient Greek agora, this centre aims to broaden communication and interactions between scientists in order to speed up the translation of new data into clinical practice’.
Photos: Dimitris Konstantinidis
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