© Yves Sucksdorff
Berlin, 02 July, 2025 – The Virchow Foundation announces that Kai Wegner, Governing Mayor of Berlin, has accepted the role of High Patron of the Virchow Foundation.
Governing Mayor Wegner has been a steadfast supporter of the Virchow Foundation and its flagship initiative, the Virchow Prize. Since assuming office in 2023, he has delivered keynote remarks at each of the Prize’s annual award ceremonies and has been instrumental in elevating Berlin as a leading global health hub.
“It is a great honour to serve as High Patron of the Virchow Foundation,” said Governing Mayor Kai Wegner. “Berlin’s key role as a traditional center of healthcare is based on strong ties and international cooperation among scientists, researchers, and care providers combined with a strong healthcare economy and start-up scene. The Virchow Foundation is a crucial part of this success. I’m proud that Berlin is home to the Virchow Prize, which champions breakthrough ideas and lifelong dedication to improving lives worldwide, and I look forward to welcoming the Virchow Prize 2025 Ceremony to the Red Town Hall.”
Founded in 2021, the Virchow Foundation promotes a holistic, cross-sectoral approach to health and well-being, inspired by the legacy of Rudolf Virchow, a 19th-century pioneer of basic medical research and social medicine at the Charité University Hospital in Berlin. Through strategic partnerships, global dialogue, and its internationally recognised Virchow Prize, the Foundation supports leaders whose work advances the goal of health for all in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Past Virchow Prize laureates include:
- Dr. John Nkengasong (2022), for leadership in strengthening Africa’s public health systems
- Prof. Dr. Rose Gana Fomban Leke (2023), for her pioneering work in malaria elimination, gender equity in science, and health systems in Cameroon
- Prof. Lucy Gilson and Prof. Johan Rockström (2024), for advancing health systems governance and the science of planetary boundaries, respectively
These recipients exemplify the Prize’s commitment to recognising lifetime achievements that bridge science, policy, and societal impact.
The Virchow Prize 2025 Ceremony will take place on Saturday, October 11, at Berlin’s historic Red Town Hall, and will gather global leaders in science, academia, and civil society. To learn more about this year’s laureate and receive an invitation to the ceremony, subscribe to the Virchow Foundation’s newsletter at virchowprize.org/newsletter/.
