Basel, November 13, 2024 - Professor Meritxell Huch wins this year's Otto Bayer Prize. The Otto Bayer Prize is awarded every two years, alternating with the Hansen Family Prize, and honors leading scientists in German-speaking countries for pioneering research contributions in chemistry or biochemistry. The award, which is endowed with EUR 75,000, was established in 1984 by the will of Professor Otto Bayer, a former research director of Bayer AG.
Professor Meritxell is honored for her pioneering work with human organoids. These small, in-vitro reproduced structures, which consist of stem and progenitor cells, make it possible to specifically and precisely investigate disease mechanisms and drug effects. Huch's research contributes significantly to personalized medicine and helps to reduce the need for animal testing. Her work opens new possibilities for the development of therapies against serious diseases of the liver and pancreas, including cancer. Professor Huch has already received numerous awards for her scientific contributions and has been a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) since 2023.
Early Excellence in Science Award for talented researchers
In addition to the Otto Bayer Prize, the Bayer Foundation also presents the annual Early Excellence in Science Award to support young scientists worldwide with prize money of EUR 10,000. This year, four outstanding researchers from various disciplines will be honored, including one award winner from the EPFL (École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne):
The prize in the Medical Sciences category goes to Dr. Jordan Squair (NeuroRestore, EPFL) for his groundbreaking discoveries and innovations in the field of neuroprosthetics and regenerative medicine. He is creating new treatment options for patients with neurotraumatic and neurodegenerative diseases. Earlier in his career, Dr. Squair worked on the development of implants that enable people with spinal cord injuries to walk again. He is currently researching how spinal cord stimulation through implants can be used to increase low blood pressure, which is common in people with paralysis. Dr. Squair is successfully working at the intersection of life sciences and entrepreneurship, which was recognized in 2023 with the BioInnovation Institute & Science Prize for Innovation by Science Magazine.
This year's prize in the Biology category goes to Dr. Na Cai (Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Munich) and is awarded in recognition of her research on genetic factors in neuropsychiatric disorders, in particular Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Her scientific work is of crucial importance for the further development of our understanding of mental health. Her work utilizes a unique combination of publicly available quantitative genetic data and novel, hypothesis-driven, multi-omics resources generated by her team. Her studies will shed light on the enormous heterogeneity of neuropsychiatric disorders and the metabolic differences between people.
Dr. Richard Liu (Harvard University, Cambridge, USA) is the winner in the Chemistry category. He is being honored for his work with catalytic reactions to produce new high-value products and improve drug development. His team researches metal-based and redox-active organic structures that enable complex chemical reactions such as copper hydride and palladium-nickel cross-coupling reactions. Dr. Liu's work is highly interdisciplinary and aims to develop new concepts at the interface of organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry.
The award for Data Science goes to Dr. Ivana Winkler (German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg) for her research in the field of female reproductive biology. She uses single-cell RNA sequencing and transcriptome data to advance therapies for reproductive health and healthy ageing. As a scientist in a large interdisciplinary research project on mice, Dr. Winkler was instrumental in the development of a "cell atlas" that for the first time maps all changes in gene activity and morphology in the different phases and tissues of the female reproductive tract. Their work also shows that recurrent tissue remodeling over the reproductive lifespan drives the gradual, age-related development of fibrosis and chronic inflammation. Although these findings have so far only been observed in mice, they have great potential for the development of new therapies to combat cancers of the female reproductive organs.
The award winners are selected by the Bayer Foundation's Scientific Council, which is made up of leading experts from the fields of molecular biology, microbiology, and plant physiology.
Award ceremony next year
All award winners will be honored at the Bayer Foundation Science Awards 2024 ceremony in Leverkusen on February 17, 2025. These awards underline the Bayer Foundation's commitment to pioneering research that provides solutions to major health and environmental issues and promotes collaboration between science and practice - also in Switzerland.
Contact:
Nicole Borel, Tel. + 41 79 274 70 79
E-mail: nicole.borel@bayer.com
COR-OTH-CH-0050-1 2411