To celebrate the Society’s 20th anniversary, the Netherlands Society of Gene and Cell Therapy established a new award in 2019 that seeks to honor an individual who has achieved a specific high impact contribution or a lifetime of significant contributions to the field of gene and cell therapy. The NVGCT Outstanding Achievement Award is presented at the NVGCT annual symposium. The recipient is selected from nominations submitted to the board by a yearly changing award committee.
On June 3, 2024, the 2024 NVGCT Award was presented to professor Chiara Bonini of the Ospedale San Raffaele in Milano, Italy, who during her career made a remarkable journey of scientific excellence, groundbreaking research, and unwavering dedication to advancing the field of gene and cell therapy.
One of the hallmarks of Professor Bonini’s research has been her pioneering work on the clinical use of genetically engineered lymphocytes in the context of stem cell transplantation, leading to the first cell-based gene therapy product approved by EMA for oncologic diseases. Her group has extensive experience on cancer immunotherapy and genetic manipulation of T cells, including (the development of) a TCR gene editing method to completely and permanently redirect T cell specificity (outperforming conventional gene transfer approaches). Her innovative protocols for the in vitro expansion and genetic engineering of T cells have paved the way for novel cellular therapies with enhanced efficacy and persistence. Her work continues to inspire and shape the future of gene and cell therapy, driving forward innovations that hold the promise of transforming patient care.