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The Sir Hans Krebs Lecture and Medal

The Sir Hans Krebs Lecture and Medal was endowed by a general gift from the Lord Rank Centre for Research and is awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related sciences. Sir Hans Krebs was a German-born British biochemist, well known for his work in identifying the urea cycle and citric acid cycle, and he played a key role in many ways during the early days of Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ.

The awardee, who should be active in European research, presents one of the plenary lectures at the Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Congress. The awardee receives a silver medal, and is awarded travel and accommodation expenses for the Congress. It is customary for the awardee to contribute a review article related to the lecture topic for publication inÌýTheÌýÂ鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Journal.

In 2025, the Krebs medal was awarded to Annette G. Beck-SickingerÌý(Leipzig University, Germany), who spoke on ‘G protein-coupled peptide receptors: structure, function and innovative therapeutic concepts’ at the 49th Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Congress.

For a complete list of previous recipients of the Sir Hans Krebs Lecture and Medal, please consult the historical awardees document.Ìý

The Datta Lecture and Medal

The Datta Lecture and Medal is awarded for outstanding achievement in the field of biochemistry and molecular biology or a related area, and is normally given at each Congress of Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ to one of the plenary lecturers. The lecturer should normally be from a Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ country. The awardee receives a silver medal, and is awarded travel and accommodation expenses for the Congress. It is customary for the awardee to contribute a review article related to the lecture topic for publication inÌýÂ鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Letters.

S. Prakash Datta was the first Managing Editor ofÌýÂ鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ LettersÌý(1968–1985) and Treasurer of Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ (1964–1990). The Datta Lecture and Medal was initiated by capital gifts from Elsevier Science Publishers in recognition of his many contributions, and from 1986 to 2015 the medal was provided by Elsevier. From 2016, when the publishing partner forÌýÂ鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ LettersÌýchanged, the award will be fully funded by Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ.

In 2025, the Datta medal was awarded to Mübeccel Akdis (Swiss Institute of Allergy and Asthma Research (SIAF), Davos-Wolfgang, Switzerland ), who delivered the lecture ‘Mechanisms of food allergy and the role of allergen-specific B cells’ at the 49th Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Congress.

For a complete list of previous recipients of the Datta Lecture and Medal, please consult the historical awardees document.

The Theodor Bücher Lecture and Medal

The Theodor Bücher Lecture and Medal was endowed by a generous capital gift from Frau Ingrid Bücher to the Gesellschaft für Biochemie und Molekularbiologie (GBM) and is awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related sciences. Theodor Bücher was a visionary German biochemist who played a key role in the early development of Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ by arranging the acquisition of Biochemische Zeitschrift, which became theÌýEuropean Journal of BiochemistryÌýand laterÌýÂ鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Journal.

The awardee, who is normally expected to be active in European research, presents one of the plenary lectures at the Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Congress. The awardee receives a silver medal, and is awarded travel and accommodation expenses for the Congress. Following the Congress, it is customary for the awardee to contribute a review article related to the lecture topic for publication inÌýTheÌýÂ鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Journal.

In 2025, the Bücher medal was awarded to Andrea Ballabio (Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy), who presented the lecture ‘Lysosomal signaling in metabolic adaptation and tumorigenesis’ at the 49th Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Congress.

For a complete list of previous recipients of the Theodor Bücher Lecture and Medal, please consult the historical awardees document.

THE RITA LEVI-MONTALCINI LECTURE AND MEDAL

The Rita Levi-Montalcini Lecture and Medal is being initiated by Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ for the 50th Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Congress in 2026, and will be awarded for outstanding achievements in biochemistry and molecular biology or related areas, with an emphasis on work on the molecular basis of disease or treatment. Rita Levi-Montalcini was a renowned Italian neurobiologist and Nobel laureate known for the discovery of nerve growth factor, and in later life for furthering research facilities and supporting young scientists, including from under-represented groups.

The awardee, who should be active in European research, will present one of the plenary lectures at the Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Congress. The awardee will receive a silver medal, and be awarded travel and accommodation expenses for the Congress.

In 2026, the first Rita Levi-Montalcini medal will be awarded toÌýEmmanuelle Charpentier who will deliver a plenary lecture at the 50th Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ Congress on ‘Transforming life sciences through the power of microbiology’.

All Â鶹¶ÌÊÓƵ medals can be awarded to scientists of any gender.