Hena Hadžimujagić won the prestigious award of the Austrian Academy of Sciences for research on rare immunodeficiencies.
Big congratulations to Hena on winning the prestigious DOC Fellowship of the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Through his doctoral work at St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute in Vienna to investigate the genetic causes of rare immunodeficiencies, with the aim of better understanding the disease and opening the way to the development of future targeted gene therapies.
Hena is currently pursuing a doctorate at St. Anna Children’s Cancer Research Institute (CCRI) in Vienna, in the laboratory of Professor Kaan Boztug, where he researches rare genetic mutations that lead to severe immunodeficiencies. The goal of her work is to understand the molecular mechanisms of these diseases and to contribute to the development of future targeted gene therapies that could change the lives of children suffering from rare hereditary disorders.
“I am especially happy that we have been following Hena since her student days. In 2021, she won second place in the bachelor category at the Bosnia & Herzegovina Futures Foundation 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition, presenting her research in the field of bioinformatics. Even then it was clear that this was an extremely talented young scientist,” announced the founder of the Foundation for the Future in BiH, Edhem Čustović.
From genetics and bioengineering studies at the International Burch University in Sarajevo, through Bioinformatics in Rome and a master’s study in Medical Immunosciences and Infection at the University of Bonn, to cutting-edge research in Vienna, Hena’s path shows what can be achieved when knowledge, dedication and continuous work are combined.
“Hena, sincere congratulations on this exceptional recognition. We are proud to follow your development and look forward to every new success. We wish you the best of luck in your continued research, which has the potential to contribute to the development of medicine and help patients around the world,” stated Čustović.



