For a sustainable improvement in global health

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, Roland Göhde, 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.

The Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities has been working on the topic of "Global Health" in interdisciplinary working groups of its members for some time, currently in "Zukunft der Medizin: Gesundheit für alle."

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.