Her life and career choices as a young Jewish woman were constrained by discrimination, and she survived the late stages of German occupation in hiding.

The inaugural award was shared by 16 scientists considered to be "founders of cancer immunology", including Eva and George Klein.

[7] Their award noted their "discoveries of tumor-specific antigens in the mouse, to the most comprehensive immunological analysis of a human cancer, Burkitt's lymphoma".

[1] She attended private school, with an interest in sports, theater, and science (inspired by the life and work of Marie Curie).

[6] Her career choices were constrained by the political situation, with worsening anti-semitism and persecution when Hungary was occupied by Germany after she finished secondary school.

[6][11] Eva married another medical student George Klein, leaving Hungary to live in Sweden in 1947.

[6][11] Eva Klein published over 500 papers, and served as an editor of the journal, Seminars in Cancer Biology.

[1] Klein had a longstanding interest in virology as well as immunology, studying the role of the Epstein–Barr virus in Burkitt's lymphoma.