Bad Homburg v.d. Höhe, March 17, 2022 – Understanding diseases and curing them? In 2023 the foundation Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) is once again awarding its Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research in the amount of 2.5 million euros – one of the most highly endowed medical research prizes in the world. The subject area for the prize is now supposed to be specified. The foundation is starting an open online ballot to accomplish this. Join in and decide where leading-edge research ought to be supported in which field.
The Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research is targeted toward enabling breakthroughs in a particularly important and promising area of medicine. “With our international research prize we want to honor and substantially strengthen outstanding research which has readily occurred,” explains Prof. Dr. Michael Madeja, Chairman of the Management Board at EKFS.
Online voting: Choosing the field of research
Medical research acts in the service of mankind. Which is why EKFS asks everyone interested in science and medicine toward choosing the prize topic: In your opinion, which area of medical research is the most important? Where are breakthroughs needed most urgently? Starting today, anyone can vote for one of the following fields – very easily and any time online at: www.ekfprize23.de or here.
The following fields of research are being voted on:
- Obesity (adiposity)
- Infectious diseases
- Diseases of worldwide significance
- Artificial intelligence
The voting goes on until April 25, 2022 at 12:00 p.m. The outcome of the voting shall be announced on April 26 on the abovementioned website.
More detailed information about the four fields of research:
- Prevention of and therapy for obesity (adiposity):
According to the WHO, worldwide around 700 million people are obese – soon as many as the combined total populations of the EU and the USA. A growing problem: Adiposity increases the risk of illnesses such as diabetes, cardiovascular diseases or cancer. The focus of research is placed on the study of the causes of adiposity along with secondary diseases associated with them and the development of new therapeutic approaches for those affected.
- Mechanisms of and therapies for infectious diseases:
Besides Covid-19 there are also countless other infectious diseases – caused by viruses, bacteria and parasites. Infectious diseases such as lung inflammations, diarrheal diseases, AIDS and tuberculosis often end fatally. The aim of research: To understand the mechanisms involved in infectious diseases and improve the prevention and therapy thereof.
- Therapies for diseases of worldwide significance:
Increasing globalization and international travel facilitate the emergence and spreading of diseases. Alongside infectious diseases, widespread diseases such as diabetes or cardiovascular diseases are also a growing health issue for people in developing countries. Above and beyond this, industrialized nations are being confronted with new global health risks – for example border-transcending epidemics.
- Artificial intelligence in diagnosis and therapy:
Artificial intelligence (AI) is meanwhile achieving astonishing things in medicine in the case of clearly defined, standardized applications. For instance, AI is able to interpret MRI scans or X-ray images precisely, which consequently supports physicians. Although, when it comes to more complex tasks involving patient diagnosis and therapy, AI has not developed far enough yet.
Film: Online-Voting zu Spitzenforschung – Ihre Stimme zählt! - YouTube (only available in German)
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung (EKFS) – Advancing research. Helping people.
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung is a non-profit foundation dedicated to the funding and advancement of medical research and the support of medical-humanitarian projects. To date the foundation has funded around 2,200 projects. With an annual funding volume currently amounting to over 60 million euros it is the largest foundation in Germany that actively funds and supports medicine. You can find more information at: www.ekfs.de
Press Contact
Else Kröner-Fresenius-Stiftung
Bianka Jerke
Presse- und Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Tel.: + 49 6172 8975-24
eMail: b.jerke@ekfs.de