Around four million children, adolescents, and adults in Germany alone suffer from one of up to 8,000 currently known rare diseases. In Europe, this figure exceeds 30 million and continues to rise. Despite their very different diseases, all face similar challenges: extremely long diagnostic paths and inadequate access to therapies, medicines, and information often burden affected individuals and their families for years.
To improve the medical care of these “orphans of medicine,” the Eva Luise and Horst Köhler Foundation for People with Rare Diseases has annually presented the Eva Luise Köhler Research Award for Rare Diseases since 2008. The award is presented in cooperation with the Alliance for Chronic Rare Diseases (ACHSE) e.V.
The prize is endowed with €50,000 and honors innovative, scientifically outstanding projects in both basic and translational research on rare diseases. Researchers at all career stages are invited to apply. Particularly worthy of recognition are sustainable, cross-disease, and network-building projects with high patient relevance. Research in oncology, purely registry-based projects, biobanks, and patient apps are not supported. Only proposals submitted from university or non-university institutes or clinics with a charitable orientation are admissible. Proposals may be submitted more than once, even in two consecutive years. Upon recommendation of ACHSE’s Scientific Advisory Board, the Eva Luise Köhler Research Award may also be divided between recipients.
Application materials can be submitted in German or English.
The application deadline for the 19th Eva Luise Köhler Research Award, which will be presented in Berlin on April 23, 2027, is July 12, 2026 at midnight.
Contact: Dr. Insa Gülzow, forschung@achse-online.de
