RNA researchers Prof. Stefanie Kaiser from Goethe University Frankfurt and Dr. Eva Kowalinski from EMBL in Grenoble, France, have been awarded the Franco-German science prize “Prix Forcheurs Jean-Marie Lehn”. The award, first presented in 2017 by the Franco-German University (FGU) and the French Embassy in Germany, comes with a total prize money of €20,000. This year’s award recognizes the two scientists’ joint research project focused on identifying new cancer therapeutics by modifying RNA structures.
The “Prix Forcheurs Jean-Marie Lehn” was presented on June 24, 2025, at the auditorium of the French Embassy. It honors the collaborative work of a research duo from Germany and France working in the fields of chemistry, biochemistry, pharmacy, and medicine. Sanofi Germany and BASF France contributed the prize money, awarding €10,000 to each laureate.
As part of the project titled “Fighting cancer by targeting the epitranscriptome,” Stefanie Kaiser and Eva Kowalinski are researching how the modification of tRNA may enable more effective treatment of liver and breast cancer. tRNA molecules are essential carriers that ensure the correct translation of genetic information – encoded on mRNA – into proteins, the building blocks of our cells. Chemical modifications to tRNAs are highly diverse; they are critical for maintaining the molecules’ structural integrity and ensuring accurate and efficient decoding of genetic information. Errors in these modifications can lead to numerous diseases. The labs of Kowalinski and Kaiser are collaborating to decode the function of a specific group of enzymes that catalyze these tRNA modifications. Their goal is to understand how these enzymes work as well as how they recognize and distinguish between different tRNAs. The research teams will also develop small molecules designed to specifically target these enzymes, aiming to explore their therapeutic potential.
Awardee Dr. Eva Kowalinski stated: “I know I speak for both of us when I say that receiving the ‘Prix Forcheurs Jean-Marie Lehn’ is a tremendous honor. Science thrives on cross-cultural exchange, and I’m grateful that we live in a Europe where this exchange is both encouraged and easily possible. Our teams complement each other perfectly, and we share the goal of discovering innovative compounds to treat common cancers.”
Prof. Stefanie Kaiser added: “Eva and I met in 2022 at the fringes of an RNA research conference in Bonn. That’s where we began developing ideas to collaborate on the enzyme METTL6, which is often overexpressed in liver and breast cancer cells and contributes to uncontrolled tumor growth. We now publish regularly together – with Eva’s team in Grenoble contributing expertise in structural analysis, while my team in Frankfurt investigates the cellular effects of METTL6 modifications.”
Stefanie Kaiser studied pharmacy and holds extensive expertise in biomedicine and chemistry. Since 2020, she has served as Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Goethe University Frankfurt. Her academic career included earlier stays at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität Munich and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge, USA.
Biologist Eva Kowalinski currently leads a research group at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL) in Grenoble, focusing on the structural biology of macromolecular protein-RNA complexes involved in RNA modification. She also serves as Co-Chair of EMBL’s infection biology program. Her academic background includes positions at Heidelberg University, Uppsala University (Sweden), and the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Munich.
Further information: Press release of the Franco-German University (in French)
