Pathologist Awarded Prestigious Lennart Nilsson Prize for Groundbreaking Scientific Photography
A pathologist’s stunningly detailed images of the human body – revealing the intricacies of diseases like Alzheimer’s, COVID-19, and cancer – have earned him one of the world’s most esteemed honors in scientific photography. Prof. Dr. Maximilian Ackermann was awarded the 2025 Lennart Nilsson Prize by the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm on July 24, 2025, recognizing his pioneering work in visualizing the unseen world within us.
Unveiling the Invisible: A New Era in Medical Imaging
For decades, medical imaging has relied on established techniques. However, Prof. Ackermann’s research pushes the boundaries of what’s possible, employing cutting-edge technologies like hierarchical phase control tomography (HIP-CT) and scanning electron microscopy. These methods allow for the creation of three-dimensional representations of the body’s finest structures – blood vessels, organs, and the subtle changes indicative of disease – with a level of detail previously unattainable.
“The award is a great honor for me,” Prof. Ackermann stated. “She spurs me on how to go to Lennart Nilsson on a journey of discovery in the human body in order to make the invisible visible.” This sentiment echoes the legacy of Lennart Nilsson, the prize’s namesake, renowned for his captivating and scientifically significant photographs of the human body.
Illuminating the Pathologies of Our Time
Prof. Ackermann’s work isn’t merely aesthetic; it’s fundamentally changing our understanding of critical illnesses. His research focuses on key questions: How do blood vessels change in the brain during the progression of Alzheimer’s disease? What happens within the lungs during a COVID-19 infection? And how does cancer tissue spread throughout the body? By visually mapping these processes, he provides invaluable insights for researchers and clinicians alike.
The prize specifically acknowledges Prof. Ackermann’s contributions to improving the understanding of the disease courses of cancer, Alzheimer’s, and lung diseases. His work serves as a crucial bridge between basic research and its practical application in patient care. He focuses particularly on the formation of new blood vessels – a process central to cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and tissue repair – and how these processes can be manipulated through medication or other therapies.
A Legacy of Recognition
This isn’t Prof. Ackermann’s first accolade. He has previously been honored with the Rudolf Virchow Prize and the Boehringer Ingelheim Prize, solidifying his position as a leader in the field. His work is affiliated with the Helios University Hospital Wuppertal of the University of Witten/Herdecke, the University Clinic of the RWTH Aachen, and the Institute for Anatomy of the University Medical Center Mainz.
Further insights into Prof. Ackermann’s scientific photography and the underlying research can be found on the website pathart.org. The award, endowed with 120,000 Swedish crowns, is presented annually and celebrates those who, like Nilsson and now Ackermann, reveal the hidden beauty and complexity of the human body.
