The foundation for Sweden’s prominent position in cancer research can be attributed in large part to the work of Dr. Eva Klein and her husband, Dr. George Klein. Her pioneering efforts included studies in cancer immunology and how genes in normal cells can suppress cancer cell malignant behavior. She has done extensive work on the role of the Epstein-Barr virus in Burkitt’s lymphoma. The Kleins have also published important papers on natural killer (NK) cells, which were discovered in their department at Karolinska Institute.
Dr. Klein has collaborated in leading the work of the Department of Tumor Biology at Karolinska for nearly 40 years. During this time, over 100 researchers have received doctorates, and many graduates have achieved top positions in international cancer research. In honor of the Klein’s 80th birthdays in 2005, the Georg and Eva Klein Foundation was established by scientists at the Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology at Karolinska Institute to ‘”support medical research in the spirit of Georg and Eva Klein.” The Foundation gathers the resources needed to support research in immunology, cell biology, infectious diseases and cancer.
Career Highlights
2011 200-Year Anniversary Silver Medal for Medical Research, Karolinska Institute
2006 MTC Scientist of the Year Award, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institute
2003 Mendel Honorary Medal for Merit in the Biological Sciences
2002 Fellow, European Union Against Cancer
1996 Thomas P. Infusino Prize and Lectureship in Cancer Causation and Epidemiology
1993 Member of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
1987 Member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences
1985 Member of the Hungarian Immunological Society
1983 Nordic Prize of the Erik Fernström Foundation, Lund University, Sweden
1978 Björken Prize, Uppsala University, Sweden
1975 Award in Tumor Immunology, Cancer Research Institute of New York
1969 Professor, Tumour Biology, Karolinska Institute
1960 Bertha Goldblatt Teplitz Award, Ann Langer Cancer Research Foundation
1955 PhD, Karolinska Institute
1953 MD, Karolinska Institute