Prof. Dr. Jost Hillenkamp, chairman of the jury, recognized Dr. Sen as “an extremely promising young investigator who has made significant contributions to the understanding of the molecular mechanism of action of a therapeutically effective inhibition of Valosin Containing Protein (VCP) and has also developed a pharmacologically effective formulation for a novel delivery of this VCP inhibition-based therapy for dominant forms of retinal degeneration.”

Furthermore, he highlighted that Dr. Sen had published her work in high-impact scientific journals over the past year. Her research topic was seen as important and also clinically relevant, because the technique she has developed may make it possible to treat inherited forms of retinal degeneration in which dominant mutations in the photopigment rhodopsin lead to photoreceptor degeneration and autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa.

Dr. Merve Sen conducted her research on VCP in the Ueffing Lab under the supervision of Dr. Blanca Arango-Gonzalez and Prof. Marius Ueffing.

DOG awardees and prizes 2022:  https://www.dog.org/galerie-der-preistraeger-2022-preise/