Sasha Ivashchenko receives Ben Feringa Impact Award 2026 
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UMCG researcher Sasha Ivashchenko has won the Ben Feringa Impact Award 2026. The award is presented annually to researchers and students whose work demonstrates significant societal impact. 

2026 Ben Feringa Impact Award - Revolutionizing pediatric and prenatal cancer imaging

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Ivashchenko received the award for her research on safer PET/CT imaging for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. These scans play a vital role in diagnosing disease and monitoring treatment, but they also expose patients to radiation. Because children are particularly sensitive to radiation, Ivashchenko’s research focuses on significantly reducing that exposure. 

Using new total-body PET/CT technology, her team has shown that radiation doses can be reduced by 80 to 95 percent without compromising image quality. This not only makes scans safer, but often also faster and less burdensome for young patients. 

About the Ben Feringa Impact Award 

The Ben Feringa Impact Award is presented annually by the University of Groningen to researchers and students who successfully translate scientific knowledge into societal impact. The awards are personally presented by Nobel Prize laureate Ben Feringa.