IMPRESSIONS OF THE JUNG NIGHT 2025
Major breakthroughs in science are rarely made alone. This spirit shaped the Jung Foundation’s award ceremony, held May, 15, 2025 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.
With the following videos, we want to grant you a little insight into this year's laureates. We thank all participants for this wonderful evening!
You can watch a presentation on the research results of this year's award winners here on our symposium page.
JUNG CAREER ADVANCEMENT AWARD: DR MED. BENJAMIN RUF
Dr med. Benjamin Ruf
We are delighted that we were able to award this year's Jung Career Advancement Award 2025 to Dr med. Benjamin Ruf. His project is dedicated to personalised cancer therapy. The Research Group Leader at the Malignome, Metabolome, and Microbiome Research Center at the Faculty of Medicine at the Eberhard Karls University of Tübingen, physician in training at the Department of Internal Medicine I at University Hospital of Tübingen is focusing on the question of how the body's own immune system can be used specifically against tumours. Congratulations!
Laudatory Speech
The laudatory speech for Dr Benjamin Ruf was given by Professor Thomas Boehm, Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board. He emphasised the importance of his research. The certificate was presented by Professor Dr Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro on behalf of the Board of Trustees. The laureate gave a brief insight into his project the following morning at the Jung Symposium 'Excellence in Human Medicine 2025'. 210,000 euros will be awarded with the prize, which Dr Ruf can use freely to pursue his approach further.
JUNG GOLD MEDAL FOR MEDICINE: PROF: WOLF-HERMAN FRIDMAN, MD, PHD
Prof. Wolf-Herman Fridman, MD, PhD
It was an honour to award Prof. Wolf-Herman Fridman, MD, PhD with the Jung Medal for Medicine in Gold 2025. He receives the award for his lifetime achievement in immuno-oncology. The current Professor Emeritus of Immunology at the Cordeliers Research Centre of the Université Paris Cité discovered back in the 1960s that the immune system of leukaemia patients can recognise their own tumour cells - a groundbreaking discovery that laid the foundation for modern cancer therapies. His research showed that the immune response is decisively controlled in the tumour microenvironment, i.e. directly in the tumour environment. This approach led to the development of immunotherapies, which today enable a complete cure for various types of cancer. We congratulate him warmly!
Laudatory Speech
Professor Thomas Boehm, MD, PhD, also took to the stage as Chairman of the Scientific Advisory Board for the laudatory speech for Prof Wolf-Herman Fridman, MD, PhD and had words of praise for his life's work. As a member of the Board of Trustees, Petra Scharner-Wolff presented the 2025 Medal winner with his certificate and warmly congratulated him. Prof Fridman presented the results of his research the following day at the Jung Symposium ‘Excellence in Human Medicine 2025’.
JUNG PRIZE FOR MEDICINE: PROF. ELENA CONTI, PHD
Professor Elena Conti, PhD
This year, we honoured two outstanding scientists with the Jung Prize for Medicine 2025. The prize went to Prof Elena Conti, Director at the Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich. She researches how cells recognise and degrade faulty messenger RNAs (mRNAs). She is particularly interested in disease-relevant mutations in these mechanisms, which she decodes using the latest methods. Her work in this field has made a decisive contribution to understanding the interplay of molecular machines. We congratulate her on her award!
Laudatory Speech
In her laudatory speech for Professor Elena Conti, PhD, Acientific Advisory Board member Professor Dr Blanche Schwappach-Pignataro had some personal words. She emphasised the importance of Professor Conti's research before Chairman of the Board of Trustees Jochen Spethmann ceremoniously presented her with the certificate for the Jung Prize for Medicine. Professor Conti gave a brief insight into her research the following day at the Jung Symposium ‘Excellence in Human Medicine 2025’.
JUNG PRIZE FOR MEDICINE: PROF. DR JÖRN PIEL
Professor Dr Jörn Piel
Secondly, we had the honour of awarding the Jung Prize for Medicine 2025 to Prof. Dr Jörn Piel. He is a microbiologist and head of the Bacterial Natural Products research group at the Institute of Microbiology at ETH Zurich and researches the enormous diversity of bacteria that could not previously be cultivated in the laboratory - and therefore represent an untapped source of potential active substances. Many of these microorganisms produce bioactive substances that could be promising for new cancer drugs, antibiotics and antiviral therapies. We congratulate him on his award!
Laudatory Speech
Prof Jörn Piel also received words of praise in his laudatory speech from Scientific Advisory Board member Professor Dr Dominique Soldati-Favre. She emphasised the importance of his achievements to date. The certificate was presented by Chairman of the Board pf Trustees Jochen Spethmann with warm congratulations. Prof Piel presented his exciting field of research to interested visitors the following day at the Jung Symposium ‘Excellence in Human Medicine 2025’.