When you buy through nexus on our site , we may clear an affiliate commission . Here ’s how it works .
Four lead biologist are among ten scientists to have been grant the esteemedGottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prizefor their research , theGerman Research Foundation(DFG ) annunciate Dec. 11 .
Maria - Elena Torres - Padilla , Volker Haucke , Ana PomboandRobert Zeiserwere selected out of 142 people to have the 2025 Leibniz Prize for their various research in cell biology , neuroscience , biochemistry andcancer . They will each pick up 2.5 million euro , tantamount to approximately $ 2.6 million , in prize money .
Ten scientists have been awarded the 2025 Leibniz Prize. Ana Rombo, pictured above, is one of four biologists among them.
Beyond biological science , additional prizes were award to philosopher and mathematicianHannes Leitgeb ; chemistBettina Valeska Lotsch ; physicistWolfram Pernice ; computer scientistDaniel Rückert ; mathematicianAngkana Rüland ; and theologianMichael Seewald .
Established in 1985 , the Leibniz Prize is considered Germany ’s most prestigious scientific honor and is bestowed upon up to 10 scientists every year . Per the DFG website , the honor aims to " honor outstanding scientist and faculty member , expand their research chance , and help them employ particularly restricted early calling researchers . "
Related:2 scientist snag Nobel in medicine for discovering ' microRNAs '
One of the award recipients' work focuses on how tumor cells evade attack by the immune system.
As of 2024 , 12 past prizewinners have later plump on to be award aNobel Prize , includingthe Swedish geneticist Svante Pääbo in 2022for his work on sequencing the Neanderthal genome and German developmental biologistChristiane Nüsslein - Volhardin 1995 for her discoveries on the hereditary control of early embryotic development .
Maria - Elena Torres - Padilla , the first of the prize - winners , isDirector of the Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells at Helmholtz Munich in Germany . Her work centre on reprogramming mature cells to resemble those found in other embryo , which have the power to become any type of cell — a trait known astotipotency . This means that you may create what Torres - Padilla call " cells à la carte , " which can be used to develop individualised therapies for particular disease .
" By reprogramming cells back to totipotency — a very early embryologic State Department — we are conceptualize transformative therapies that range from neurodegenerative disease tobraininjuries and leukemia , " Torres - Padilla said in astatementin response to receiving the award .
Another awarding recipient , Volker Haucke , is a managing director of the Leibniz - Forschungsinstitut für Molekulare Pharmakologie research institute in Berlin . He hit the books how neurons absorb substances from their surroundings plays a fundamental use in shapinghow they communicate with one anotherand stay healthy . His team hopes to practice this knowledge to developnew therapy for neurologic and neurodegenerative disorder , includingAlzheimer ’s disease .
Ana Pombo , a professor of biochemistry at Humboldt University of Berlin , has also been spot for her discoveries related to the organization ofchromosomesthatare say to have ledto a " raw understanding of gene regulation and the underlying structures within the cadre core . " These discoveries may help revealhow sure diseasesthat are sometimes tie to chromosomal abnormalities , such asautismandepilepsy , may arise .
— Scientist who observe body ’s ' fire alarm clock ' against invading bacteria win $ 250,000 Lasker booty
— Scientists behind technical school in mRNA vaccinum snag 2nd prestigious prize — is a Nobel next ?
— 2024 Nobel Prize in interpersonal chemistry awarded to scientists who revealed a ' altogether new world of protein structures '
Lastly , cancer life scientist Dr. Robert Zeiser hasbeen award the 2025 Leibniz Prizefor his " groundbreaking ceremony work on the treatment of blood Cancer the Crab . " Zeiser , who is director of the Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Deputy Medical Director at the University of Freiburg in Germany , studies how tumour supervise to evade the body’simmune defences , peculiarly in the cause ofleukemia and skin cancer .
These scientist will fall in the six other awardees , who were know for their work in other fields ranging from experimental purgative toartificial intelligence activity , at the official honor observance on March 19 , 2025 .
Ever inquire whysome people build up muscle more easily than othersorwhy freckle follow out in the Sunday ? Send us your questions about how the human body works tocommunity@livescience.comwith the subject line " Health Desk Q , " and you may see your question suffice on the internet site !