Medicine Leenaards Science Prize for two research teams from Lake Geneva
Two research groups from the Lake Geneva region have been awarded the Leenaards 2025 Science Prize. It is endowed with a total of 1.4 million francs. The first group focuses on female genitalia, the second on cancer treatment.
01.04.2025, 12:08
SDA
The research group led by Jasmine Abdulcadir from Geneva University Hospital (HUG) has developed an instrument to measure the sensitivity of the female genitalia - as part of the care of women who have been victims of circumcision.
Worldwide, 230 million women are affected by genital mutilation, including 600,000 in Europe and 24,600 in Switzerland, according to a press release issued by the Leenards Foundation on Tuesday.
A newly developed portable and networked device will enable patients to assess the sensitivity of their vulva and clitoris in complete confidentiality without having to undergo embarrassing and invasive examinations.
The project will therefore benefit all women who suffer from genital sensitivity disorders. People with genital injuries following childbirth or neurological disorders are also affected.
Progress in immunotherapy
The other prizewinners, a research team from EPFL (EPF Lausanne) and the University of Geneva led by Li Tang (EPFL), focused on cancer patients who are resistant to immunotherapies. The researchers took a close look at the structure of the cancer cells.
According to Li Tang, cancer research to date has mainly focused on pharmacological and biological approaches. The still largely unexplored physical properties of cancer cells play a key role in their resistance to treatment.
The Leenaards Foundation funds scientific research projects with a total of 1.4 million Swiss francs every year.
