By Chiara Magni
In the Newsletter #21 we celebrated Dr. Andrés Kreiner on the occasion of the Konex Awards, when a “Merit Diploma for the Technological Development discipline” was awarded to him by the Argentine “Konex Foundation”. We once again congratulate this distinguished member of our society, this time for receiving the prestigious Hatanaka Award.
The Hatanaka Award honors Hiroshi Hatanaka, a key figure in the development of Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. In 1968, Hatanaka’s team pioneered the use of BNCT for treating patients with malignant brain tumors, using the compound now known as BSH. Between 1966 and 1993 Hatanaka treated around 120 patients with high-grade gliomas using a combination of surgery and Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, achieving promising results. Hatanaka’s perseverance against the skepticism about Boron Neutron Capture Therapy played a crucial role in increasing the global recognition and value of BNCT.
Dr. Andrés Kreiner has been awarded the Hatanaka Award in recognition of his substantial contributions to Boron Neutron Capture Therapy. His work centers on advancing and applying accelerator technology to generate neutrons, enhancing the effectiveness and precision of BNCT and establishing it as a viable treatment option for certain types of cancer.
As Senior Researcher at CNEA-CONICET (National Atomic Energy Commission and National Council for Scientific and Technical Research of Argentina) and Professor at UBA (Universidad de Buenos Aires) and UNSAM (Universidad Nacional de San Martín), Kreiner played a key role in advancing the research on Boron Neutron Capture Therapy, helping gather support and recognition for BNCT as a promising cancer treatment.
Kreiner’s contributions to BNCT and other areas of nuclear physics have earned him several prestigious awards, including the Konex Award in Physics and Nuclear Technology (1993), the Enrique Gaviola Award from the National Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences (1995), the Bernardo Houssay Award from the Secretariat of Science and Technology (2005) and the Konex Award in Technological Development (2023).
We once again extend our congratulations on this last Hatanaka Award to Dr. Kreiner, thanking him for his long-standing commitment to BNCT.