Körber Prize for Sara Wickström: Award ceremony at Hamburg City Hall
Patrick Cramer and Thomas Paulsen presented the Finnish cell biologist with the award, which is worth one million euros
On Friday 18 September, the Finnish physician and cell biologist Sara Wickström was awarded the Körber Prize for European Science, worth one million euros, for her groundbreaking discovery of a previously unknown mechanism by which cells perceive their environment. In the Great Hall of Hamburg City Hall, Patrick Cramer, President of the Max Planck Society, and Thomas Paulsen, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Körber-Stiftung, presented the certificate during a formal award ceremony.
Peter Tschentscher, Lord Mayor of the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg: “The Körber Prize is a great honour for the researchers who have been recognised. Through its awards, the Körber-Stiftung sends a strong signal in support of scientific excellence and collaboration in Europe.”
Sara Wickström has been awarded the Körber Prize for her research into the role of mechanical forces in cell development. This research opens up new avenues for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, including fibrosis and the associated functional impairments of organs.
On behalf of the Senate, I congratulate Sara Wickström on this award and wish her and her team continued success in their scientific work.”
Thomas Paulsen, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Körber-Stiftung: “Sara Wickström’s research impressively demonstrates how scientific breakthroughs can change our view of things we take for granted: even our cells perceive their physical environment and react to it. This insight not only broadens our fundamental understanding of how cells function, but also opens up new prospects for medicine in the long term. We warmly congratulate Sara Wickström on winning the 2026 Körber Prize!”
The hidden senses of cells
Sara Wickström is regarded as one of the pioneers of nuclear mechanobiology, which investigates the influence of physical forces on cells. The award recognises her discovery of a previously unknown mechanism by which cells sense their environment. Wickström’s research reveals that cells sense physical forces such as pressure or tension and incorporate them into their genetic material. This means that individual genes can be switched on or off solely through physical stimulation – a crucial factor in how a cell develops or how tissue heals following injury. In the long term, Sara Wickström’s research may contribute to the development of new treatments for cancer, organ scarring and other, often age-related, diseases. Detailed information on the laureate’s work can be found here.
Sara Wickström: “I feel deeply honoured to receive this award and am very grateful to the Körber-Stiftung for its support of basic research. This prize is not only a testament to the dedication and creativity of past and present members of my team, but also motivates us to continue gaining new insights into the field of mechanobiology and its significance for human health.”
The Award Winner
Sara Wickström is Director at the Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine in Münster and Director of Research at the Faculty of Medicine, University of Helsinki. Born in 1976, the Finnish scientist completed her medical studies at the University of Helsinki, followed by an MD/PhD programme, which she completed in 2001 with the title ‘Medical Doctor’ and in 2004 with a PhD thesis. Following her PhD, she conducted research at the Max Planck Institute for Biochemistry in Martinsried near Munich, before establishing her own research group at the Max Planck Institute for Biology of Ageing in Cologne in 2010. She gained international recognition as one of the pioneers of nuclear mechanobiology. Wickström has received numerous international awards for her research and was elected to the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) in 2020.
The Körber Prize
The Körber Prize, with a prize fund of one million euros, is one of the world’s most lucrative research prizes. The prize money is to be used for research and science communication; ten per cent may be used for personal purposes. Since 1985, the Körber Foundation has awarded the Körber Prize annually to recognise a research breakthrough in the physical or life sciences in Europe. The prize honours excellent and pioneering research approaches with high potential for practical application. Since the Körber Prize was first awarded, eight laureates have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.
Hamburg Science Summit
The awards ceremony also marked the highlight of the Hamburg Science Summit. Organised by the Körber-Stiftung and the Hamburg Science Authority, the conference brought together leading European figures from the worlds of science, politics, business and think tanks on 17 September to discuss the future of science and innovation in Europe. hamburg-science-summit.de
Photos from the awards ceremony
You can download photos of the awards ceremony here.
Press release: Körber-Stiftung