Prof. Helmut Maecke – one of THE pioneers in Theranostics – received the Scott Smallwood Honor for Lifetime Achievement in Theranostics presented by the ICPO Foundation during the opening of the 8th Theranostics World Congress (TWC) in Cape Town on Jan 29, 2026.
For the first time this honor was presented for lifetime achievement and outstanding scientific contributions in Theranostics as well as novel radiopharmaceuticals. But this honor celebrates more than scientific excellence: It demonstrates vision, resilience, and the profound impact that ONE individual can have on patients, on medicine, and on the future of cancer care.
Prof. Helmut Maecke, emeritus from the University Basel and the University Clinic Basel (USB), Switzerland and University Clinic Freiburg, Germany, is an exceptional scientist whose pioneering work in Theranostics over five decades has transformed precision medicine from an experimental concept to routine clinical reality. He has advanced targeted agents that unify diagnostic imaging and therapy, enabling more accurate tumor detection, personalized treatment selection, and measurable improvements in patient outcomes. The Scott Smallwood Honor emphasizes both the scientific contributions and the personal dedication that have been leading to profound impact today and for the future.
As Prof. Helmut Maecke was not able to travel to South Africa, Dr. Cristina Müller, Research Group Leader at the Paul Scherrer Institute and Professor at ETH Zürich, received the honor on his behalf from Prof. Richard P. Baum, Trustee of ICPO, and featured his scientific achievements and personal merit.
The honor is named after Scott Smallwood, a 63-year-old patient from the US, whose personal journey and generosity have become a powerful driving force for progressing the field of Theranostics, including the ICPO. Diagnosed in 2014 with a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, he underwent complex surgery followed by radiotheranostics treatment with positive outcomes. Deeply grateful for the care he received and aware of the need for better access to such therapies, he chose to donate to the ICPO Foundation helping to advance ICPO´s mission of scaling patients access to Theranostics worldwide. The Scott Smallwood Honor thus symbolizes the essential collaboration between patients, clinicians, researchers and philanthropists in bringing targeted diagnostics and therapies to all patients in need.
