Cervical cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer among women. Particularly in countries where preventive treatment is limited, it can also be a frequent cause of death.But there is a new hope thanks to the research work of Harald zur Hausen, who won the 2008 Nobel Prize for Medicine for showing that cervical cancer is caused by viruses. This insight led to the development of a vaccine that aims to prevent infection from the tumor viruses. Now Austrian immunologist Angelika Riemer has taken up the challenge of continuing zur Hausen’s work. She and her team in Heidelberg are developing a vaccine that is also effective after infection, by locating the tumor virus and rendering it harmless.
