Professor Marylyn Addo receives the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany
The DZIF scientist and physician at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf is being honoured for her medical and research achievements in the area of emerging infections.
Prof. Marylyn Addo was awarded the Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany on August 25, 2023. She received the honour for her outstanding medical and scientific achievements in the research of infectious diseases such as HIV, Ebola and COVID-19, as well as for her dedicated social commitment. Addo is DZIF professor and head of the Section of Infectiology and founding director of the Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf (UKE). At the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), she coordinates the research area "Emerging Infections".
Hamburg's Science Senator Katharina Fegebank congratulated Prof. Marylyn Addo warmly on the occasion of the award: "As a top international researcher, Marylyn Addo has done pioneering work in Hamburg—in research into infectious diseases as well as in the development of vaccines. The successes in combating the Corona pandemic would not have been possible without her work. Marylyn Addo is not only a role model for women in science, but a central figure in the fight against infectious diseases in Hamburg and nationwide," said Fegebank.
With her transnational research and her great social commitment, Prof. Addo also inspires people outside Germany. The Senator explicitly thanked her for her impressive work and expressed her delight that Hamburg has such an exceptional physician at the UKE in Marylyn Addo.
Prof. Addo also expressed her gratitude at the award ceremony: "I would like to accept this award on behalf of all those who made such important contributions to nursing and medical care during the pandemic as well as now. Moreover, especially in this day and age, this honour is also an important appreciation for the work of the many scientists in a wide variety of disciplines—from biomedicine to climate research to the humanities and more—who engage in research every day, who shape fact- and evidence-based progress in their respective disciplines and for our society."
Marylyn Addo would like to encourage all young people who are interested in a career in science to follow this path and thus contribute to this important progress. She also sees the Order of Merit as a mandate and motivation to continue working on important issues in science, be it promoting young scientists, advancing equality and diversity in science, communicating science, and building trust in research.
Prof. Addo studied human medicine in Bonn, Strasbourg and Lausanne. She then completed a diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine. After receiving her PhD in 1999, she moved to the Partners AIDS Research Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School in Boston, USA. In 2013, she accepted an appointment to a DZIF professorship at the UKE. There she currently works as Head of the Section of Infectious Diseases and as Founding Director of the Institute for Infection Research and Vaccine Development.
Prof. Addo's work focuses on the fight against new, virally caused infectious diseases. For example, she cared for one of the few Ebola patients treated in Germany to date and treated many patients at UKE during the COVID-19 pandemic. For her participation in an international team developing a vaccine against SARS-CoV-2, she was awarded the German Medical Award as Physician of the Year in 2020.
Prof. Marylyn Addo has also rendered outstanding services to the DZIF: As the first female DZIF professor, she has been conducting research there on the focus of viral immunology and vaccine development since 2013. Currently, she leads and coordinates the DZIF research area "Emerging Infections". Her work at the DZIF focuses on immunological studies, the development and clinical testing of vaccines as well as new treatment methods and the management of infectious outbreaks. She has already contributed significantly to the further development and coordination of translational research on viral infections such as Ebola, MERS, Lassa fever or Crimean-Congo fever and most recently COVID-19. Overall, Marylyn Addo's research at DZIF contributes to early detection and control of emerging infectious diseases. Addo is also involved in training young researchers in clinical infectious diseases as part of the DZIF Academy programmes.
Prof. Addo's work exemplifies the sustainable and successful integration of medical work, clinical research and basic research. As a prototypical clinical researcher, Prof. Addo is tackling the major challenge of vaccine development and efficacy testing. Thanks to her outstanding competence, she is now one of the leading vaccine researchers in the field of infectiology and tropical medicine worldwide. The Order of Merit is the highest recognition awarded by the Federal Republic for services to the common good.
Source: Press release of the Hamburg Authority for Science, Research, Equality and Districts (German only)
