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(16.12.2025) Dr. Isis Wolf from the Department of Urology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg receives the award for her work on photoimmunotherapy.

Dr. Isis Wolf, biologist in the "Antibody-based Diagnostics and Therapy" working group at the Department of Urology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, was awarded the Klaus Mangold Prize of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg on December 11, 2025. The prizewinner is researching an immune-based therapy method for the targeted treatment of prostate tumors. Photoimmunotherapy uses light to specifically destroy tumor cells without damaging surrounding tissue.

Goal: to treat cancer more specifically and gently

"Dr. Wolf's work shows how basic research in urology can open up new avenues for future therapies. The Klaus Mangold Prize recognizes this important contribution to the further development of cancer treatment," said Prof. Dr. Christian Gratzke, Medical Director of the Department of Urology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

"With my research, I would like to contribute to treating cancer in a more targeted and gentle way and to actively help shape tomorrow's innovative cancer therapies today," says Wolf. "The award is a great motivation to continue pursuing this approach."

Targeted destruction of tumor cells using light and antibodies

Wolf is researching photoimmunotherapy, in which special antibodies are marked with a dye that can be activated by light. These marked antibodies recognize tumour cells based on certain surface characteristics and dock onto them in such a way that the dye is distributed inside the tumour cells. Targeted irradiation with light activates the dye and triggers the destruction of the cancer cells. As the dye also fluoresces, tumor cells can be made visible for diagnostic imaging and can be identified and removed with particular precision during an operation, for example. Research into photoimmunotherapy is currently in the preclinical phase and the therapy is not yet being used to treat patients.

The Klaus Mangold Prize

In 2024, the Klaus Mangold Prize was established for outstanding projects to improve patient care. It is awarded to employees of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg and is endowed with 2,000 euros. The prize was named after Prof. Dr. Klaus Mangold, who was a member of the Supervisory Board of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg as a representative of the business community between 1998 and 2011.

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