Meinolf Suttorp Receives the Prestigious John Goldman Prize from the International CML Foundation

Prof. em. Dr. med. Meinolf Suttorp, former head of the Department of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation at the Carl Gustav Carus University Hospital (UKDD) and the Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine at TUD Dresden University of Technology (MF-TUD), was awarded the prestigious John Goldman Prize by the International CML Foundation (iCMLf) on October 3, 2026, in Gothenburg. The prize recognizes his outstanding contributions to the diagnosis, treatment, and care of children and adolescents with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). The Faculty of Medicine at TUD and the University Hospital Dresden congratulate Prof. Suttorp on this international honor.

The John Goldman Prize honors the memory of CML researcher and clinician John Goldman. Awarded annually, the prize recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions throughout their professional careers to the diagnosis, clinical treatment, and care of people with CML. Prof. Suttorp is the first pediatrician to receive the prize.

“This award means a great deal to me. It highlights the importance of collaboration and international networking in the treatment of rare malignant diseases,” says Meinolf Suttorp. “I hope that our work will help improve treatment outcomes for children and adolescents with CML worldwide, ultimately leading to cures, while also raising awareness of the major challenges faced by countries with limited healthcare resources.”

More Than 35 Years of Dedication to Children with CML

Chronic myeloid leukemia is a very rare disease in children and adolescents. In Germany, only about 20 children and adolescents are diagnosed with it each year. Meinolf Suttorp has been working in the field of pediatric CML for more than 35 years. His scientific and clinical work initially focused on optimizing treatment through hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and later on the use of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

As the principal investigator for the Society for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology (GPOH), he led treatment studies on CML in children and adolescents from 1996 to 2017. Among other things, he investigated growth disorders as a possible side effect of TKI therapy. In addition, he played a key role in fostering international collaboration among pediatric CML experts. This collaboration led, for example, to the development and publication of pediatric treatment guidelines.

Even after his retirement in April 2018, Meinolf Suttorp has remained scientifically active. Together with Prof. Markus Metzler, the current director of the Registry for Children and Adolescents with CML in Erlangen, he analyzes data on the diagnosis and treatment of pediatric CML. Since 2018, he has been involved as a first author, senior author, or co-author in 73 scientific publications on this topic.

Long-standing career in Dresden

Meinolf Suttorp began his academic career in Kiel. On August 1, 2001, he moved to Dresden, where he headed the Division of Pediatric Hematology, Oncology, and Stem Cell Transplantation at the Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine at the UKDD until March 31, 2018.

On February 12, 2004, he was appointed Professor of Pediatrics with a focus on Hematology and Oncology at the School of Medicine at TU Dresden. In 2018, TUD awarded him the Chair of Senior Professor at the request of the School of Medicine.

Research, Advisory Work and Commitment

Meinolf Suttorp continues to contribute to the pediatric networks he helped establish. He has been a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the International CML Foundation since 2013. In this role, he supports patients and physicians around the world, particularly in countries with low per-capita incomes, with questions relating to the diagnosis and treatment of CML. Since 2014, he has also brought the perspectives of children and adolescents with CML to the steering group of the German CML Alliance.

As Chair of the Pediatric CML Working Committee of the International BFM Study Group, Meinolf Suttorp shaped the committee’s work from 2001 to 2006 and again from 2015 to 2019. He now continues to support the group as an advisory member. Since 2021, he has also served as an alternate member of the Ethics Committee of the Saxon State Medical Association.

He is also committed to supporting children with cancer through Sonnenstrahl e.V. Dresden. As a member of the organization’s board, he works with his colleagues to coordinate support initiatives and ensure that donated funds are used responsibly to improve patient care.

An Award with an International Tradition

The John Goldman Prize was first awarded in 2014 to Prof. Rüdiger Hehlmann of Mannheim. Other recipients include numerous internationally renowned CML experts.

The International CML Foundation is dedicated to improving treatment outcomes for patients with CML worldwide. Its goals include promoting international collaboration, expanding educational opportunities, strengthening diagnostic capabilities, and supporting innovative research.

Further information: International CML Foundation

Contact:
Anne-Stephanie Vetter
Staff Unit for Public Relations, Carl Gustav Carus Faculty of Medicine
at TUD Dresden University of Technology
National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT/UCC) Dresden
+49 (0) 351 458 17903