Tobias Erb and Moritz Helmstaedter, two scientists from the prestigious Max Planck Institute, have been awarded the coveted Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz Prize. This esteemed research prize, which carries a cash award of 2.5 million euros each, is considered the most important in Germany and is presented annually by the German Research Foundation (DFG). Since its establishment in 1986, a total of 445 scientists have been honored with the prize, including 74 female and 371 male researchers.
The award ceremony for this year’s Leibniz Prize recipients is scheduled to take place on 13 March 2024 in Berlin. It serves as a platform to recognize and celebrate their extraordinary contributions to their respective fields of study.
Tobias Erb’s groundbreaking research at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in Marburg focuses on studying the metabolic pathways of microorganisms, particularly those involved in converting the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide (CO2). By exploring the intersection of molecular biology, biochemistry, and synthetic biology, he investigates the structure and function of microbial biocatalysts, modifies their properties using synthetic biology techniques, and assembles metabolic pathways not found in nature. Erb’s innovative and interdisciplinary research offers promising avenues for developing technologies aimed at addressing the pressing climate crisis.
One significant aspect of Erb’s research involves harnessing the CO2 fixation abilities of microorganisms. These microscopic creatures are capable of utilizing sunlight or hydrogen to convert CO2 into organic compounds, effectively using it as a source of carbon. Leveraging synthetic metabolic pathways, Erb’s team has successfully developed methods to extract CO2 from the atmosphere more efficiently than natural systems. This breakthrough opens up opportunities for integrating CO2 capture into material cycles, potentially aiding in the production of valuable materials from simple carbon compounds in a sustainable manner. Erb’s work holds considerable potential for advancing sustainable biotechnological processes and combatting climate change.
Tobias Erb obtained his doctorate in microbiology from the University of Freiburg in 2009. Following research tenures in the United States and Switzerland, he assumed the role of Head of the Department of Biochemistry and Synthetic Metabolism in 2014 and became a Director at the Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology in 2017. Additionally, Erb has been a professor at the Philipps University of Marburg since 2022.
Moritz Helmstaedter, the second recipient of this year’s Leibniz Prize, is being honored for his groundbreaking contributions to the field of neuroscience. His work has revolutionized our understanding of the three-dimensional organization and function of mammalian brain circuits. Helmstaedter’s pioneering development of instruments and technologies has enabled systematic and high-resolution access to the intricate networks of neurons in the brain.
Helmstaedter is considered one of the founding figures in the field of connectomics, which aims to unravel the fundamental principles underlying brain organization by reconstructing thousands of neurons and their synaptic connections. Through his analysis of a dense local connectome comprising over 200,000 synapses, he has debunked long-standing assumptions about neuronal connectivity, emphasizing the precise nature of individual synapses. To achieve these remarkable outcomes, Helmstaedter had to overcome various methodological challenges, such as developing techniques for accurately recording neuron populations from large tissue samples, including entire brains. This breakthrough research has also shed light on the fundamental disparities between human brains and those of other mammalian species.
Moritz Helmstaedter has served as the Director of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Frankfurt am Main since 2014. Additionally, he holds the position of Associate Professor for Neuronal Networks at Radboud University Nijmegen in the Netherlands since 2016. Prior to his current roles, Helmstaedter completed his doctorate at the Max Planck Institute for Medical Research in Heidelberg and declined offers from Janelia Research Campus in Virginia (USA) and ETH Zurich.
It is noteworthy that several Nobel Prize laureates have also been recipients of the Leibniz Prize. Notable examples include Hartmut Michel in Chemistry (1988), Erwin Neher and Bert Sakmann in Medicine (1991), Christiane Nüsslein-Volhard in Medicine (1995), Theodor W. Hänsch in Physics (2005), Gerhard Ertl in Chemistry (2007), Stefan W. Hell in Chemistry (2014), Emmanuelle Charpentier and Reinhard Genzel in Chemistry (2020), Benjamin List in Chemistry (2021), Svante Pääbo in Medicine (2022), and Ferenc Krausz in Physics (2023). Impressively, all of these distinguished scientists are affiliated with the Max Planck Society.
The Leibniz Prize not only recognizes the exceptional achievements of Tobias Erb and Moritz Helmstaedter but also highlights the remarkable contributions made by Max Planck scientists in advancing knowledge and understanding across various scientific disciplines.
