Virchow Foundation for Global Health established in Berlin – Foundation will offer an annual prize
Berlin, 13th October 2021. Promote awareness of global health issues nationally and internationally, strengthen research and development cooperation in the field of global health, and thus contribute to the sustainable improvement of global health – this is the aim of the Virchow Foundation for Global Health, which was established in Berlin on October 13, 2021 and has now been recognized as a legal entity by the foundation supervisory authority. The foundation will offer a highly esteemed prize each year, announced by the founders – five personalities from science and society. The foundation’s namesake, Rudolf Virchow, was born October 13th ,200 years ago today.
In order to raise awareness of global health, the complex interrelationships between medical, political, economic and social factors are to be communicated in the spirit of a holistic view of health and disease. The foundation is establishing a prestigious award, the Virchow Prize for Global Health, to be presented for the first time in 2022. It will recognize special contributions and outstanding achievements in the field of global health. Academic, societal, social or economic/industrial innovations that aim to improve the situation of people worldwide can be honored. The Virchow Prize for Global Health is thus intended to recognize and support the United Nations’ efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the UN Agenda 2030. The foundation will bring to life, support and organize the awarding of the prize.
Furthermore, the foundation will promote research projects and the application of research results as well as support the networking of actors from civil society, science, politics and business on the topic of global health on a national and international level, for example at symposia and conferences.
Founders are Prof. Dr. Detlev Ganten, Founding President of World Health Summit, Roland Göhde, GHA – German Health Alliance, Prof. (ETHZ) Dr. Gerald Haug, National Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Christoph Markschies, Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities, and Friede Springer.
GHA – German Health Alliance with its 120 member organizations in multi-sectoral set-up including private sector, NGOs & foundation and academia & science has been engaged in topics of Global Health and Health System Strengthening since 2014, e.g. in dedicated working groups of its members.
The foundation’s namesake, Rudolf Virchow (1821-1902), was born on October 13, 1821. He is considered the founder of modern medicine, modern pathology and social medicine.
More information about the Virchow Foundation can be found at www.virchowprize.org
Contact the Virchow Foundation: press@virchow.foundation
Photo: Founders of the Virchow Foundation for Global Health: Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Christoph Markschies, Prof. Dr. Gerald H. Haug, Dr. h.c. mult. Friede Springer, Roland Göhde, Prof. Dr. Detlev Ganten (from left to right)
