Jan Korbel And Stefan Pfister Received HMLS Investigator Award
13. Dezember 2018
Prize for Heidelberg Molecular Life Sciences endowed with 100,000 euros
Photo: Rothe
For their ongoing commitment to promote groundbreaking collaborations in Heidelberg and to establish new methods of research in the molecular life sciences, especially cancer research, Dr Jan Korbel and Prof. Dr Stefan Pfister have received this year's HMLS Investigator Award. Bioinformatician and geneticist Jan Korbel is a research group leader and senior scientist at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory in Heidelberg. Scientist and paediatrician Stefan Pfister pursues research at the German Cancer Research Center and is the Director of the Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ). The Heidelberg Molecular Life Sciences (HMLS) award is endowed with 100,000 euros.
The HMLS initiative is part of the “Molecular and Cellular Basis of Life” Field of Focus anchored in Heidelberg University's institutional strategy. Participants include the Faculty of Biosciences, the Medical Faculties of Heidelberg and Mannheim, the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, the German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and the European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL). The award recognises Heidelberg researchers for extraordinary work in the life sciences and their strategic commitment to advancing Heidelberg as a research centre, as well as for initiating structured research activities and mentoring junior researchers.
At the beginning of the award ceremony, Prof. Dr Thomas Rausch, bioscientist at Heidelberg University and spokesperson of the Research Council of the “Heidelberg Molecular Life Sciences” initiative, praised the two scientists as highly successful bridge builders and excellent researchers with pioneering work. Dr Eileen Furlong (EMBL) gave the address honouring the prize winner Korbel. Prof. Dr Peter Lichter (DKFZ) paid tribute to the prize winner Pfister. With brief presentations, Prof. Pfister and Dr Korbel also gave insights into their research. The award ceremony was held on 12 December 2018 in the BioQuant Center.
