The 2026 Klaus Grohe Prize of the GDCh goes to Prof. Nicolas Winssinger of the University of Geneva, and Prof. Edward Tate of Imperial College London (UK). This is the first time that two laureates have shared the award, and the first time it has been endowed with 75'000 euros—making the Klaus Grohe Prize one of the most highly endowed prizes for medicinal chemistry in Europe. It is awarded by the Klaus Grohe Foundation, which is affiliated with the German Chemical Society (GDCh). The award ceremony will take place on September 6, 2026, as part of the EFMC Medicinal Chemistry 2026 conference in Basel, Switzerland.
Photo: Nicolas Winssinger (privat)
Nicolas Winssinger uses nucleic acids (the building blocks of the genetic molecule) in an unusual way. Normally, they only carry genetic information, but in his work, they control chemical reactions and the structuring of molecules. This results in molecular circuits with molecular logic that react to signals in the body like sensors and, in response, release an active substance, for example.
This opens up new avenues for “smart” drugs and diagnostics. His latest achievement is a programmable anticoagulant (a drug that prevents blood clotting) whose effect can be selectively turned on and off. This is particularly valuable for safety-critical therapies. It represents a completely new type of treatment.
Read the full press release of the GDCh to get more information about the prize program and the winners:
Contact:
Maren Mielck
Gesellschaft Deutscher Chemiker e.V.
Öffentlichkeitsarbeit
Tel. +49 69 7917-327
E-Mail:
www.gdch.de/presse
GDCh; David Spichiger, SCS,
22.07.2026