Dr. Lukas Bunse - Heinz Maier-Leibnitz Prizewinner 2025
Neurology, Faculty of Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg; University Hospital Mannheim
A medical researcher in neurology, Lukas Bunse is working to combat brain tumours using immune cells. His focus is on high-grade gliomas – tumours caused by mutations in cells of the brain or spinal cord which are extremely difficult to treat. As a researching physician in the area of neurology, Lukas Bunse’s goal is to understand these tumours more precisely in order to develop effective immunotherapies based on these insights. Such therapies involve genetically modifying the body’s own immune cells so that they specifically target tumour cells. At the moment, gliomas are primarily treated by means of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.
Bunse’s research has the potential to complement or even replace these approaches by means of more low-impact treatment options in future. His findings may also pave the way for applying these methods to other brain tumours or different types of cancer.