Bayer Foundation has announced that Professor Dr Lutz Ackermann from the Georg-August University Göttingen has received the prestigious Hansen Family Award for his pioneering research in sustainable chemistry, organic synthesis, and catalysis. The award, worth €75,000, honours Ackermann’s innovative work in developing precise, efficient, and environmentally responsible methods for producing active medical ingredients.
Established through the estate of former Bayer AG Supervisory Board Chairman Kurt Hansen, the Hansen Family Award is presented biennially by the Bayer Foundation. Since its inception, it has recognised 13 leading scientists, including genome editing pioneer and Nobel laureate Emmanuelle Charpentier. In parallel, four rising researchers — Dr Casey Paquola, Dr Simon Lebek, Dr Anna Wuttig, and Dr Britta Velten — were honoured with the Early Excellence in Science Award, each receiving €10,000.
Innovating Molecular Research through C–H Activation
For more than two decades, Ackermann has focused on advancing molecular research through C–H activation — a process that allows scientists to modify carbon-hydrogen bonds within molecules. This enables faster and more targeted creation of new compounds, improving drug development efficiency and sustainability.
“It’s somewhat like playing with Lego,” Ackermann explained. “We take a molecule — our Lego construction — and swap out a piece at a certain point. This allows us to change the molecule and even create structures that didn’t exist before.”
These C–H activation techniques can be applied across complex molecules, including anti-cancer compounds and therapeutic proteins. While no marketed drug currently uses this approach, Ackermann’s ongoing collaborations aim to apply it to accelerate cancer drug development and reduce the environmental impact of chemical synthesis.
Driving Sustainability and Future Medicines
Chitkala Kalidas, Executive Director of the Bayer Foundation and Head of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) at Bayer, said: “The Hansen Family Award recognises exceptional scientific contributions that can catalyse breakthrough innovations in medicine and allied disciplines. Professor Ackermann’s pioneering research could significantly advance the development of novel cancer therapies, offering hope to millions of patients worldwide.”
Four Emerging Talents Recognised for Excellence
In addition to Ackermann’s honour, the Bayer Foundation presented its Early Excellence in Science Award to four emerging researchers across key life science disciplines:
- Dr Casey Paquola, Jülich Research Centre – Biology: for work simulating human brain maturation to identify developmental abnormalities earlier.
- Dr Simon Lebek, University Hospital Regensburg – Medicine: for developing gene-editing approaches for cardiovascular disease treatment.
- Dr Anna Wuttig, University of Chicago – Chemistry: for advancing electrocatalysis for energy storage, conversion, and medicinal chemistry.
- Dr Britta Velten, University of Heidelberg – Data Science: for using machine learning to unlock new insights into health and disease.
The award ceremony will take place in Leverkusen in February 2026. A complete list of previous Bayer Foundation Science Award recipients is available on the Bayer Foundation website.
