Honoring Innovation: Highlights from the Bayer Foundation Science Awards Celebration
Bayer Foundation celebrates exceptional achievements in scientific research by promoting promising early career scientists and recognizing the groundbreaking contributions of world-leading experts. In early 2025, the foundation honored six distinguished scientists for their innovative work at a ceremony in Leverkusen, fostering dynamic discussions, valuable networking, and encouraging scientific exchange.
The Science Awards Celebration started with the Scientific Symposium “Collaboration in Science: the key for a healthy future”, where our Early Excellence in Science award winners presented their cutting-edge research accompanied by Bayer scientists in their fields of expertise. The scientific symposium covered new catalytic concepts for enhancing product quality and drug development, delved into omics resources for identifying genetic factors involved in Major Depressive Disorder, and explored the use of single-cell RNA and spatial transcriptome data to better understand aging and disease. It concluded with an outlook on curing paralysis and Bayer's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.
The highlight of the event was the Award Ceremony honoring the winners of the Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker Award, Otto Bayer Award and Early Excellence in Science Awards.
“Congratulations to the winners of the Bayer Foundation Science Awards! Thank you for an inspiring day filled with engaging discussions on cutting-edge research, your approaches to solving complex scientific problems and the impact of your work on human health, agriculture and the society at large.”
Chitkala Kalidas, Executive Director of Bayer Foundation & SVP Bayer
Advocating for science: Alena Buyx is honored with the Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker Award 2024
We were delighted to honor Professor Alena Buyx with the Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker Award. This award is being presented for the second time and was established in 2021 on the occasion of Ernst-Ludwig Winnacker’s 80th birthday to acknowledge individuals who stand-up for science and the scientific method, and consequently enhance the impact of science for the benefit of society.
Alena Buyx is a Professor of Ethics in Medicine and Health Technologies and Director of the Institute for History and Ethics in Medicine at the Technical University of Munich. Alena is receiving the award in recognition of her exceptional public engagement, policy advice, and science communication across a wide range of topics, particularly in the fields of biomedical and public health ethics.
Breaking Barriers: Professor Dr. Meritxell Huch receives prestigious Otto Bayer Award 2024 and four early career scientists receive the Early Excellence in Science Awards 2024
The distinguished winners of the Early Excellence in Science Award are for Chemistry Richard Liu from Harvard University, Cambridge, USA, for Biology Na Cai from the Helmholtz Pioneer Campus, Munich, Germany, for Medical Science, Jordan Squair from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), Lausanne, Switzerland, and for Data Science Ivana Winkler, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
Early Excellence in Science Award winners 2024
“I am deeply inspired by the bold and cutting-edge research of these rising stars. Their dedication to improving people’s lives is truly remarkable and their humility and team spirit shine through in everything they do. Their outstanding work reinforces my belief in the transformative power of science to address some of our most pressing challenges in society.”
Stefan Oelrich, Executive Director of Bayer Foundation & Member of the Board of Management of Bayer AG
The Otto Bayer Award, went to Professor Meritxell Huch, director of the Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany. She received the award in recognition of her pioneering research on human organoids, which are small, in-vitro organ-like structures derived from stem/progenitor and/or adult cells. Her research has significantly advanced the use of organoid models in drug discovery, screening, and disease modeling for personalized medicine.
Otto Bayer Award 2024 Winner – Professor Dr. Meritxell Huch
Once more, the Bayer Foundation Science Awards Celebration highlighted the achievements of outstanding scientists, emphasizing the importance of collaboration and innovation in advancing a healthier future.
Please find more pictures and the highlight video of the event below.
Bayer Foundation Science Awards Celebration 2024
