Wissenschaft: Körber-Preis an finnische Zellbiologin Wickström verliehen
Unsere Zellen nehmen ihre Umgebung wahr und reagieren darauf. Bei der Preisverleihung im Hamburger Rathaus wurde deutlich, warum diese Erkenntnisse der finnischen Biologin Wickström bahnbrechend sind.
The Körber Prize for European Science 2026 has been awarded to Sara Wickström, a Finnish cell biologist working in Münster and Helsinki. Wickström's groundbreaking research on the role of mechanical forces in cell development has earned her this prestigious honor. Her discoveries revealed that cells respond to mechanical pressure or tension, which can switch specific genes on or off.
This newfound understanding could lead to new approaches for detecting and treating diseases. Hamburg's Mayor Peter Tschentscher, a member of the SPD, praised the research, noting that the pressure or tension experienced by cells is processed at the genetic level and significantly influences cell development and tissue healing. This mechanism was unknown until Wickström's discovery in 2016.
Prior to this, scientists believed that cells were primarily controlled by their genetic program and chemical signaling molecules. Wickström's work has made her one of the pioneers of cell nucleus mechanobiology, which studies the impact of physical forces on cells. Long-term, her research could contribute to developing new therapies for cancer, organ scarring, and other age-related conditions.
The Körber Prize, established in 1985, is awarded annually to scientists who have made significant contributions to physical or life sciences. This year's prize, worth one million euros, was presented in the Rathaus of the Hanseatic city of Hamburg.
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