Heinrich Wieland Prize

Heinrich Wieland Prize

The Heinrich Wieland Prize is a prestigious award named after the Nobel Laureate Heinrich Otto Wieland, who was awarded the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1927 for his research on the composition of bile acids. Established in 1964, the prize honors outstanding research in the fields of biochemistry, chemistry, and physiology of fats, lipids, and related substances.

Overview

The Heinrich Wieland Prize is awarded annually by the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation, a philanthropic organization dedicated to supporting the advancement of the biomedical field. The prize aims to recognize and encourage scientists who have made significant contributions to the understanding of the biochemical processes and molecular mechanisms of lipids and their role in cellular functions, metabolism, and diseases.

Award

The prize includes a monetary award of €100,000, making it one of the most significant awards in the field of lipid research. Recipients are selected based on their contributions to the advancement of science in areas relevant to the interests of Heinrich Wieland. The selection is made by a distinguished panel of international scientists, ensuring that the awardees represent the highest level of achievement in their field.

Notable Recipients

Over the years, the Heinrich Wieland Prize has been awarded to numerous scientists who have later received other prestigious awards, including the Nobel Prize. Notable recipients include:

• Michael S. Brown and Joseph L. Goldstein (1985) - For their discoveries concerning the regulation of cholesterol metabolism, which later earned them the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.
• Kai Simons (1994) - For his pioneering work on membrane microdomains, known as lipid rafts.
• Peter J. Ratcliffe (2009) - For his research on cellular oxygen sensing mechanisms, which was foundational for his Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 2019.

Impact

The Heinrich Wieland Prize has played a significant role in promoting research in lipid biochemistry, a field that has implications for understanding and treating various diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. By recognizing and supporting scientists in this field, the prize contributes to the advancement of biomedical research and the development of new therapeutic strategies.

See Also

• Nobel Prize in Chemistry
• Biochemistry
• Lipid metabolism
• Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation