Brunhilde Wirth received the prestigious NRW Innovation Award 2019

Brunhilde Wirth

Prof. Dr. Brunhilde Wirt with the prize sculpture "Prometheus" and Prof. Dr. Andreas Punkwart, the NRW Minister of Econmics and Innovation (photo: MWIDE NRW/ Susanne KURZ)

Prof. Dr. Brunhilde Wirth, Director of the Institute of Human Genetics and Principal Investigator at the CMMC, has laid with her groundbreaking work in the field of spinal muscular atrophy the foundation for the development of innovative therapies. On May 13, 2019, she received the NRW Innovation Prize 2019. The prize is endowed with 100,000 Euros.

"This is the most important award I have received so far. I am deeply moved and it is a great honor for me to receive this award. I am also a bit proud to be the first woman who has been awarded in the category “Innovation”. This award recognizes the innovative power of human genetics. It gives courage to the four million patients with rare diseases in Germany and especially those with spinal muscular atrophy. Our daily battle for targeted treatment is for them," comments Brunhilde Wirth.

Meet Prof. Brunhilde Wirth: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DO65Y_f9T8&list=PLdMWW9dTAQhQ-tCxVSZi3cFXS_sCJy5xH&index=3&t=0s

Press release from the University Hospital Cologne:
Kölner Professorin Brunhilde Wirth mit dem NRW Innovationspreis 2019 ausgezeichnet

Press release from the "Landesregierung Nordrhein-Westfalen
https://www.land.nrw/de/pressemitteilung/landesregierung-verleiht-innovationspreis-2019-drei-herausragende