The Heinrich Wieland Prize.
The Heinrich Wieland Prize honours exceptional scientists from around the world whose pioneering research has pushed the boundaries of knowledge in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, and physiology. Their discoveries not only deepen our understanding of life itself but often pave the way for new medical breakthroughs. Named after Nobel laureate Heinrich Otto Wieland (1877–1957), the prize reflects his legacy of curiosity-driven discovery and its transformative impact on science and medicine.
Endowed by the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation with 250,000 EUR, the award belongs to the most substantial recognitions for fundamental research in the life sciences worldwide. Over the decades, the prize has become synonymous with excellence, with five of its laureates going on to win Nobel Prizes.
The call for nominations for the Heinrich Wieland Prize opens in the spring. The deadline for nominations is 1 June of each year.
The journey to scientific excellence begins with a question. The Heinrich Wieland Prize celebrates those who dare to ask — and find — answers that transform scientific understanding and advance human health.
Learn more about the Heinrich Wieland Prize by clicking on the picture on the left or this link to YouTube.
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Board of Trustees of the Heinrich Wieland Prize
The board of trustees of the Heinrich Wieland Prize consists of nine internationally acclaimed scientists, reflecting the prize's broad thematic scope. Serving in an honorary capacity, they select the laureate each year from nominations submitted to the foundation. In addition, they guide the strategic development of the prize and help shape the annual scientific symposium and award ceremony.
Current members of the board are:
- Prof. Dr Silvia Arber – University of Basel, Switzerland
- Prof. Dr Stefan Bornstein (Deputy Chairman) – University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Dresden, Germany
- Prof. Dr Jens Brüning – Max Planck Institute for Metabolism Research and University Hospital, Cologne, Germany
- Prof. Erick M. Carreira, PhD – ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- Prof. Dr Florian Gantner – C. H. Boehringer Sohn AG & Co. KG, Biberach, Germany
- Prof. Dr F.-Ulrich Hartl (Chairman) – Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Prof. Kai Johnsson, PhD – Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Heidelberg, Germany
- Prof. Brenda Schulman, PhD – Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Martinsried, Germany
- Prof. Fiona Watt, DPhil – EMBO, Heidelberg, Germany