First place was awarded to Dr. Katharina Habenicht, University Hospital Erlangen, along with a €2,000 prize, for her article “Expansions of circulating plasmablasts producing commensal-reactive IgA antibodies are predictors for chronic GVHD” published in Blood. Her study showed that patients who later develop chronic GvHD (cGVHD) already have elevated plasmablast levels in their blood as early as 90 days post-transplant. These cells, originating from the gut, produce antibodies against beneficial intestinal bacteria. The findings suggest that early immune changes in the gut may predict cGVHD before symptoms appear. https://doi.org/10.1182/blood.2024027301

Second place was jointly awarded to Dr. Sascha Göttert (Department of Internal Medicine III,  University Hospital Regensburg) and Dr. Kristina Maas-Bauer (University Hospital Freiburg ), with €1,500 each.

Dr. Göttert was recognized for “The microbial metabolite desaminotyrosine protects against graft-versus-host disease via mTORC1 and STING-dependent intestinal regeneration”, published in Nature Communications. His study highlights the gut microbiome’s role in transplant outcomes, showing that desaminotyrosine (DAT)—produced by gut bacteria from foods like kale and berries—can protect against GvHD. In preclinical models, DAT prevented intestinal damage, promoted tissue repair, and preserved anti-cancer immune responses, even after antibiotics disrupted the microbiome. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-65180-6

Dr. Maas-Bauer’s article “ROCK1/2 signaling contributes to corticosteroid-refractory acute graft-versus-host disease”, also in Nature Communications, identified the protein ROCK1 as a driver of severe, treatment-resistant acute GvHD (aGVHD). Blocking ROCK1 and ROCK2 in immune cells reduced inflammation, limited tissue damage, and improved survival in mice without affecting the anti-cancer immune response. This strategy offers hope for patients unresponsive to standard steroid treatments. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-44703-7

Together, this year’s award-winning research highlights a shift toward more precise and preventive strategies in stem cell transplantation. By identifying early warning signs of chronic GvHD and uncovering protective gut-derived molecules, these studies open new avenues for earlier diagnosis and safer, more effective treatments—bringing renewed hope for improving patient outcomes and reducing life-threatening complications.

Follow the story on Linkedin:

https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7445102728852258817