We are proud to announce that Dr. Thanos Tsaktanis has been awarded the 16th Oppenheim Award for innovative multiple sclerosis research by Novartis Pharma GmbH.

He received this prestigious honor for his study “Multimodal Monitoring and Immunomodulation in Progressive MS: From Biobank to Personalized Therapy.”

In this project, he developed forward-thinking strategies to identify and treat disease progression in progressive multiple sclerosis at an early stage. His work integrates cutting-edge immunoanalytics, AI-assisted imaging, and functional diagnostics. A key focus of the study is the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) axis, a central regulator of immune processes. Early findings indicate that reduced AhR activity correlates with greater disability and faster disease progression — and that therapeutically modulating this pathway may offer new treatment possibilities. These promising insights pave the way for more personalized and effective care for people living with multiple sclerosis, and we are delighted to celebrate this important achievement.