National awards for cancer and dementia research
Southampton researchers have been recognised for their contributions to the fields of immunisation and dementia.
The Southampton Antibody and Vaccine Group and Professor Jessica Teeling received prizes at the British Society for Immunology Awards 2025.
These awards celebrate the people and teams making a difference in immunology. This is the study of how the body fights disease and infection.
The awards ceremony took place at the Royal Society in London last week.
Advancing cancer immunotherapy
The Southampton Antibody and Vaccine Group (AVG) won the Outstanding Team Award.
The team are based in both the Centre for Cancer Immunology at the University of Southampton and at University Hospital Southampton.
They are a collaborative group of about 60 scientists and clinician scientists. Together, they are improving understanding of how the immune system can be harnessed to help cure cancer.
The group’s work has directly contributed to the development of pioneering drugs. These are being used to treat leukaemia, lymphoma and solid cancers.
They also carried out important work during the Covid-19 pandemic. The group studied vaccine responses amongst immunocompromised people to steer government policy.
Dr Ali Roghanian is Associate Professor in Cancer Immunology and co-lead of the AVG. He said:
“This award recognises the achievements of countless scientists, clinicians, and support staff over the past few decades. They have all made significant contributions to the field of cancer immunology.
“Many of the team’s discoveries have been successfully translated into the clinic. They have resulted in saving numerous patients’ lives.
“The team has also trained many scientists who have gone on to make major impacts in the field around the world. I am incredibly proud to be part of this remarkable team and to work alongside such dedicated and inspiring colleagues.”
The other leaders of the Southampton AVG are Professor Mark Cragg, Professor Sean Lim, Professor Aymen Al-Shamkhani, Professor Juliet Gray, Professor Stephen Beers and Dr Yury Bogdanov.
Engaging the public
Professor Jessica Teeling won the Public Engagement Award. She is Professor of Experimental Neuroimmunology at the University of Southampton.
Prof Teeling was recognised for a game she developed. It is called ‘Snakes and Ladders for a Healthy Brain’.
The snakes and ladders game comes complete with a three-metre-by-three-metre board and giant foam dice. It is designed to teach people about lifestyle choices that prevent (ladder) or increase (snake) the risk of dementia.
Prof Teeling said: “I am very honoured to receive this award for our outreach work on modifiable risk factors for dementia.
“I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute to such meaningful work. It is great to collaborate with a dedicated team of researchers and students to engage the public in discussions about brain health.”