Herbert Stiller Research Prize 2025
The Herbert Stiller Research Prize is awarded by Doctors Against Animal Experiments (DAAE) and comes with €20,000 in prize money. It is awarded to outstanding scientists who pursue important advances in medical research through innovative, completely animal-free methods. The focus is on innovation, scientific excellence, and a clear focus on human-based approaches.
The prize
The prize is named after the organisation's founder, Dr Herbert Stiller (1923–1985), a medical specialist in neurology and psychiatry who was an early advocate for medicine without animal experiments. After several awards in the 1990s and 2000s, a new edition was established in 2019 thanks to earmarked sponsorship funds, and the prize has been awarded every two years since then.
Funding is available for pioneering research projects in the fields of medicine and life sciences located in Germany or German-speaking countries. The planned work must be entirely free of animal experiments and animal-derived materials; eligible projects include in vitro models, in silico analyses, and clinical or epidemiological studies. The prerequisite is that the research addresses a novel topic or pursues an innovative methodological approach. Applicants should identify with the goals and values of Doctors Against Animal Experiments (DAAE).
Each funding cycle, we receive numerous impressive applications, demonstrating the diversity and significance of animal-free, human-relevant research. This year, we have also promoted animal-free research in other areas and have therefore decided not to award a second prize. This allows our activities in this area to complement each other in the best possible way.
The winner
Human bladder-on-a-chip model
Dr Pedro Caetano Pinto, Greifswald University Hospital
Title: The human micro-physiology bladder: alternative to chemical carcinogenesis and xenotransplantation in animals
Summary: Bladder cancer is one of the most challenging cancer types, causing serious illness, high relapse rates, and limited treatment options. Research in this area has predominantly relied on animal experiments, such as inducing tumors in mice or rats with chemicals or transplanting human tumors into animals—methods that raise ethical concerns and lack direct relevance to human disease. Currently, there are very few complex, animal-free models that accurately mimic human bladder cancer biology.
This year's award recipient, Dr Pedro Pinto from Greifswald University Hospital, is pioneering an innovative bladder-on-a-chip model that replicates the three key tissue layers of the human bladder. Completely free of animal-derived materials, this dynamic system integrates human epithelial cells, connective tissue, immune cells, and muscle tissue, enabling real-time studies of tumor growth and metastasis in a physiologically relevant environment.
Dr Pinto's model aims to improve understanding of how bladder cancer progresses from an early, relatively benign stage to a more aggressive form that invades the muscle wall. Additionally, the system allows for testing new therapies – including personalized treatments – without the use of animals. With its cost-effectiveness and user-friendly design, this model presents a promising avenue to fully replace animal-based bladder cancer research in the future.
The prize award ceremony
The award ceremony for the 2025 Herbert Stiller Prize was held on October 14 at Greifswald University Hospital. The event opened with a celebratory address by Prof. Dr Martin Burchardt, Head of the Department of Urology at Greifswald University Medical Center. Dr Katharina Feuerlein, a DAAE board member, delivered a commendatory speech outlining the organization’s mission and goals. Subsequently, Dr Dilyana Filipova, scientific officer at DAAE and jury member, congratulated the winner on behalf of the scientific jury. The ceremony concluded with the awardee, Dr Pedro Caetano Pinto, presenting his innovative project, which generated considerable interest among attendees.
From left: Dr Arnt Ebinger (Head of Local Staff Unit NUM, University Medical Centre Greifswald), Dr Katharina Feuerlein (Board of Doctors Against Animal Experiments), Dr Dilyana Filipova (Scientific officer at Doctors Against Animal Experiments), award winner Dr Pedro Pinto (University Medical Centre Greifswald) and Prof. Martin Burchardt (Head of the Clinic and Polyclinic for Urology at the University Medical Centre Greifswald).
The Herbert Stiller Prize 2025.
Awardee Dr Pedro Pinto with the representatives of DAAE and members of his working group.