The ceremony, held at the Trippenhuis in Amsterdam, gathered family, friends, colleagues, and members of the scientific community in a heartfelt celebration of twelve exceptional young scientists. Among them, Dr. Salerno stood out as one of the three awardees within the domain of Medical, Medical-Biological, and Health Sciences.
During the event, Dr. Salerno was invited for a short interview, where she highlighted the crucial role of diversity and inclusivity in science, values she actively advocates for within academia. She empahasized that diverse perpectives and backgrounds enrich scientific discovery and help shape more equitable research environments.
With this award, KNAW recognizes Dr. Salerno's innovative work in uncovering the molecular mechanisms that govern immune cell function. Her research provides fundamental insights essential for development of next-generation treatments for infectious diseases and cancer.
Fiamma expressed her deep appreciation for the recognition: I am humbled and honored to receive this award. It recognizes not only my work, but also the importance of fundamental science in driving new discoveries. I am deeply greatful to everyone who has supported, challenged and inspired me along the way, and I am excited for what our young group will contribute to the field in the years ahead.
Dr. Fiamma Salerno receives the KNAW Early Career Award 2025
On November 18th 2025, Dr. Fiamma Salerno, tenure-track group leader at the Department of Immunology at the Leiden University Medical Center, was awarded the 2025 Early Career Award from the Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW).
