Distinguished Greek Australian researcher and Neos Kosmos contributor Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos has been awarded the prestigious Galien Scientific Research Award during a special ceremony held in Athens on Thursday.
The awards ceremony, hosted at the Megaron Athens Concert Hall, honours groundbreaking achievements in pharmaceutical science.
The award was presented to Professor Apostolopoulos by Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, who praised her as a shining figure of the global scientific community.
Speaking to Neos Kosmos following the award, the distinguished researcher expressed deep gratitude and emotion.
“I am moved and proud to receive this honour. I have always believed that through research, we can find solutions to complex health problems,” Prof. Apostolopoulos said.
“This distinction is not mine alone—I share it with the researchers, colleagues, students, staff, and mentors I have had the privilege to work with.”
Also present was the Australian Ambassador to Greece, Alison Duncan, who praised the researcher and noted immunologist.
“I was honoured to join Greece’s Prime Minister, Kyriakos Mitsotakis, tonight in presenting the Prix Galien to an outstanding Australian – Distinguished Professor Vasso Apostolopoulos of RMIT University – for her pioneering contributions to cancer vaccine development and immunotherapy. In a moving acceptance speech, her dedication and perseverance to improving lives through collaborative medical research shone through. As an Australian of Greek descent, Professor Apostolopoulos exemplifies the best of both our country’s,” Ambassador Duncan said.
Apostolopoulos, a leading figure in immunology and vaccine development, has received numerous accolades throughout her career for her contributions to cancer immunotherapy and chronic disease treatment.
The Prix Galien Awards, often referred to as the Nobel Prizes of the pharmaceutical industry, recognise the most innovative and impactful contributions to medical science—those that improve quality of life or save lives through the development of advanced medications and diagnostic tools. Since their inception in 1970, the awards have been held in over 15 countries and remain among the highest international honours in biomedical research.
Alongside Prime Minister Mitsotakis, other speakers at the ceremony included Greek Health Minister Adonis Georgiadis, Prix Galien Greece Chair Jenny Pergialiotou, and Professor Apostolopoulos herself.
The honour marks another milestone for the Greek diaspora in science, highlighting the vital role of cross-cultural collaboration in advancing global health.
