CNC-UC researcher Filipe Pereira has been awarded the Pfizer 2024 Prize for basic research. The award was given for a study into the reprogramming of cells to fight cancer.
Filipe Pereira explains that “the award-winning work consisted of reprogramming cancer cells (human and mouse) into cells that present tumor antigens, specific proteins on the cell surface that distinguish healthy cells from abnormal cells. The results obtained are very promising for the development of immunotherapies for the treatment of cancer, since when the reprogrammed cells were injected into mice with tumors, there was a reduction in tumor growth, an increase in animal survival and a better response to existing immunotherapy treatments.”
The Pfizer 2024 Awards ceremony took place on November 13, 2024. Read the Expresso article about the awards here. 

About the Pfizer Awards
The Pfizer Research Awards are the result of a partnership between Pfizer and the Sociedade das Ciências Médicas de Lisboa, with the aim of contributing to the promotion of health science research in Portugal. Established in 1956, the Pfizer Awards distinguish the best basic and clinical research work, carried out in whole or in part in Portuguese institutions by Portuguese or foreign researchers. Over the years, the Pfizer Prizes have been awarded to more than 700 researchers and more than 200 works have been recognized. Since their inception, the Pfizer Awards have made a positive mark on research in Portugal and have been an incentive for young researchers, projecting their scientific careers. More information here.