Douglas Lowy and John Schiller of the U.S. National Institutes of Health have been named winners of the 29th Pezcoller-AACR International Award for cancer research.

The two long-time collaborators have worked together for over three decades and are credited with developing the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine - the first vaccine specifically designed to prevent cancer.

The award ceremony will take place on Saturday, May 9, in Trento, Italy, where the Pezcoller Foundation is based. Often referred to as a “Nobel Prize of oncology,” the award recognizes major contributions to cancer research.

The HPV vaccine protects against the most common cancer-causing strains of the virus, which are responsible for nearly all cases of cervical cancer, the fourth most common cancer among women worldwide. A specific strain, HPV16, is also linked to most cases of anal cancer and a significant share of cancers affecting the vulva, vagina, penis, and oropharynx.

In total, HPV-related cancers account for around 690,000 new cases each year globally, including approximately 350,000 deaths from cervical cancer alone.

Researchers say that widespread global vaccination could prevent nearly all cervical cancer cases and significantly reduce other HPV-related tumors.

The prize, worth €75,000, will be shared equally between the two scientists.