Greifswald doctor receives Herbert Stiller Prize for humane research!

Greifswald doctor receives Herbert Stiller Prize for humane research!

A significant moment for research without animal testing occurred in Greifswald. On October 14, 2025, Dr. Pedro Caetano Pinto from the Department of Urology at the University Medical Center Greifswald was awarded the Herbert Stiller Prize. This award recognizes innovative approaches to research that avoid the use of animals and instead use human models. The Herbert Stiller Prize is endowed with 20,000 euros and has been awarded by the “Doctors Without Animal Testing” association since 1990.

Dr. Pinto's project, for which he received the award, focuses on developing a bubble-on-chip model to study bladder cancer. This novel model, considered an animal-free research approach, consists of a three-layer structure that includes epithelium, connective tissue and muscle and works exclusively with human cells and animal-free materials. This makes the previous approach, in which almost 9,000 animals suffered in bladder cancer research in Germany between 2020 and 2024, obsolete.

An important approach for the future

The new model enables comprehensive studies of tumor growth, metastasis and interaction with the immune system as well as the testing of new therapies. Dr. Pinto emphasizes that his bubble-on-chip model provides a cost-effective and user-friendly alternative to traditional animal testing. This not only benefits researchers, but could also provide better results for patient care.

The association “Doctors Against Animal Experiments” emphasizes that public funding for non-animal research is still low in Germany. Less than one percent of biomedical research funding goes to groundbreaking projects like that of Dr. Pinto. This shows how important prizes like the Herbert Stiller Prize are in supporting and recognizing innovative approaches.

A role model for the research community

The award ceremony took place in a celebratory setting in Greifswald, at which Dr. Katharina Feuerlein and Dr. Dilyana Filipova from the “Doctors Against Animal Experiments” association took over the honors. Your appreciation to Dr. Pinto shows how committed the research community is to non-animal science and how important such innovative projects are for the future of medical research.

Such developments could lead to a fundamental change in research, drastically reducing animal suffering while accelerating medical progress. The successful award of Dr. Pinto is a step in the right direction for the entire industry and a sign of hope for cruelty-free methods.

You can see that Greifswald not only conducts research, but also develops innovative solutions for complex human health issues. A truly exciting step into a future that promises less animal suffering and more human science. For more information about the price and Dr. Pinto's work, visit NDR or Doctors against animal testing.