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Dr. Anke Werner, Dr. Sebastian Stricker and Dr. Frederike Stein were honoured by the Von Behring-Röntgen Foundation on Tuesday, 5 November 2024 for their innovative research into therapeutic approaches against the Ebola virus, gluten intolerance and mental illness. The award, which is endowed with 5,000 euros each, recognizes outstanding achievements in medicine and has been presented annually to young scientists since 2009. Around one hundred guests, including prominent representatives from science, business and politics, attended the award ceremony in the auditorium of Justus Liebig University Giessen.

The 34-year-old Marburg virologist Dr. Anke Werner also focuses on combating the Ebola virus as part of her work at the LOEWE Center DRUID. Her research aims to increase the chances of survival of infected patients and effectively contain the spread of the disease, which most recently led to numerous deaths during the epidemic in West Africa in 2014 and 2015. Their work on the matrix protein VP40, which plays a central role in the formation of new viruses and the control of their replication, paves the way for the development of effective drugs against the virus and thus makes an important contribution to global health.

 Von Behring-Röntgen Prize for Young Scientists

“The future of university medicine will be decisively shaped by excellent young scientists. University medicine thrives on bold innovations, and promoting young scientists is our way of ensuring this progress,” emphasized Dr. Lars Witteck, President of the Von Behring-Röntgen Foundation. “With the Von Behring-Röntgen Young Investigator Awards, we want to encourage young researchers to continue their important work, which has an impact far beyond the borders of Central Hessen.”