Two more Freiburg researchers joined the Leopoldina - National Academy of Sciences in August 2020 with Prof. Dr. Stephan Ehl and Prof. Dr. Robert Thimme. Ehl is the Medical Director of the Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI) at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Thimme the Medical Director of the Department for Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. Being elected a member of the Leopoldina is one of the highest academic awards and honors for scientists. “The Leopoldina is currently becoming increasingly important - also in the light of the corona crisis. I am very pleased that Freiburg as a facility is represented in the academy by as many as eight members now,” says Prof. Dr. Frederik Wenz, Medical Director of the Medical Center - University of Freiburg.

Expert on children’s immune system

Prof. Dr. Stephan Ehl studied medicine in Aachen, Erlangen and Munich. The clinical focus of the specialist in pediatric and adolescent medicine lies with pediatric immunology, in particular on the diagnosis and therapy of congenital disorders of the immune system. He also researches immune defects with autoimmunity and chronic inflammation. In 2003, Ehl completed his habilitation in the special field of pediatrics. Since 2008, Prof. Ehl has been Medical Director of the Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI) at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, since 2015, he has been the spokesman for the Collaborative Research Center 1160 on the subject of immunopathology. As head of the Department of Pediatric Immunology, the 55-year-old takes care of children with immunological diseases in the Department for Pediatric Hematology and Oncology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg. In 1999 he was awarded the research award of the German Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases and in 2001 the award of the Kind-Philipp-Foundation for pediatric-oncological research.

Internist and hepatitis researcher

Prof. Dr. Robert Thimme (50) studied medicine both in his hometown of Berlin and in Freiburg. He is a specialist in internal medicine, gastroenterology and endocrinology. Since 2015, Thimme has been the Medical Director of the Department for Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Endocrinology and Infectiology at the Medical Center - University of Freiburg, where he set new trends, including founding the Gerok Liver Center and the IGE (Interdisciplinary Gastrointestinal Endoscopy). Thimme’s research focus lies on the immune response to hepatitis viruses. Thimme has received numerous prizes and awards: including one for the best experimental doctoral thesis, as well as acceptance into the Emmy Noether Program of the German Research Society, and the Thieme Prize of the Leopoldina - National Academy of Sciences.

Leopoldina - National Academy of Sciences

The Leopoldina, founded in 1652, is one of the oldest science academies in the world. With around 1,500 members, the Leopoldina brings together outstanding scientists from Germany, Austria, Switzerland and numerous other countries. As the National Academy of Germany, the Leopoldina has represented German science in international bodies since 2008 and takes an independent position on the scientific basis of political and social issues. In interdisciplinary expert groups, the Leopoldina, together with other German, European and international academies, prepares public statements on current topics.