Jung Foundation honours cutting-edge research: 4 prizes for medical breakthroughs
Their research has the potential to decisively transform the medicine of tomorrow, or has already done so
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“Research is a shared journey” - Prof. Elena Conti, PhD (Munich), Prof. Dr Jörn Piel (Zurich), Dr med. Benjamin Ruf, MD (Tübingen) and Prof. Wolf-Herman Fridman, MD, PhD (Paris) recognised for groundbreaking medical research in Hamburg.
Major breakthroughs in science are rarely made alone. This spirit shaped the Jung Foundation’s award ceremony, held in the elegant Hanse Lounge in Hamburg. Amid heartfelt speeches and thoughtful tributes, the independent Hamburg-based foundation celebrated four researchers whose work has either already transformed medical practice or holds the promise to do so: Prof. Elena Conti, PhD, Prof. Jörn Piel, Dr med. Benjamin Ruf, MD, and Prof. Wolf-Herman Fridman, MD, PhD. The evening was marked by warm, cross-generational conversations that transcended disciplinary boundaries.
Prof. Elena Conti, PhD (58), received the Jung Prize for Medicine 2025 for her seminal contributions to RNA metabolism. As Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich, she investigates how cells detect and degrade faulty messenger RNAs – a fundamental process that, when disrupted, is linked to diseases such as ALS or spinal muscular atrophy. The prize, worth €300,000, will support the continuation of her vital research. Conti shares the award with Prof Jörn Piel.
Prof. Dr Jörn Piel (58), co-recipient of the Jung Prize for Medicine 2025, explores the untapped potential of nature. A microbiologist at ETH Zurich, Piel focuses on bacterial species previously considered uncultivable, searching for bioactive compounds with the potential to fight cancer and drug-resistant infections. His work merges scientific curiosity with high-tech biotechnology – and the prize money allows him to keep exploring this uncharted territory.
Dr med. Benjamin Ruf (34) was awarded the Jung Career Advancement Award 2025 for his vision of a more precise, immune-driven cancer therapy. A physician-scientist at the M3 Research Center and the Department of Internal Medicine I in Tübingen, Ruf investigates how tumours evade immune responses – and how these defences can be strategically dismantled. As a member of Germany’s only oncology Cluster of Excellence, iFIT (Image Guided & Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies), Ruf advocates for bridging basic science and clinical care. In his moving acceptance speech, he called for more dialogue between research and the realities of patient treatment. He receives €210,000 in unrestricted funding for his research.
Prof. Wolf-Herman Fridman, MD, PhD (79), received the Jung Gold Medal for Medicine 2025 in recognition of his lifetime achievements. The Professor Emeritus of Immunology at Université Paris Cité is a trailblazer in immuno-oncology, whose studies on the tumour microenvironment have transformed the understanding and treatment of cancer. In his reflective address, Fridman looked back on the evolution of his field and emphasised the importance of international collaboration and mentoring the next generation of scientists. The gold medal comes with a €30,000 scholarship, which he may award to a young researcher of his choosing.
In between the official programme, guests experienced what truly sets the Jung Foundation apart: personal connection. Awardees, board members, scholarship recipients and guests engaged in open, inspiring conversations – about science, values, and the passion that drives researchers across generations.
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