Cardiff University Science Seminar Series

Introduction

Prof. Özlem Türeci is a German physician, scientist and entrepreneur. In 2008, she co-founded the biotechnology company BioNTech, which in 2020 developed the first messenger RNA-based vaccine approved for use against COVID-19. Türeci has served as BioNTech's chief medical officer since 2018. Türeci has helped lead the discovery of cancer antigens, the development of mRNA-based individualized and off-theshelf vaccine candidates and other types of immunotherapies which are currently in clinical development. Türeci leads the clinical development of BioNTech’s “Project Lightspeed,” the company’s successful effort to develop and distribute an mRNA-based vaccine against COVID-19, a historic achievement completed in less than one year. Türeci previously served as CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Ganymed Pharmaceuticals AG, which she co-founded with Ugur Sahin and Christoph Huber. The company was acquired by Astellas in 2016. She currently serves as President of the Association for Cancer Immunotherapy (CIMT) in Germany. She is a recent recipient of the German Sustainability Award, among other notable recognitions. Türeci and her spouse, Prof. Uğur Şahin, have won a number of awards, and have become one of the most celebrated marriage in science since Marie and Pierre Curie discovered radioactivity. To register: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/cardiff-university-school-of-medicine-science-seminar-series-tickets-305029881587?aff=erelpanelorg