By: IPP Bureau
Last updated : July 10, 2025 1:45 pm
Prof. Götz is Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Research at Helmholtz Center Munich and Chair of Physiological Genomics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich
Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, has awarded the 2025 Future Insight Prize to Prof. Magdalena Götz of the Helmholtz Center Munich for her groundbreaking research in regenerative neurobiology. The €250,000 research grant recognizes her discovery that glial cells can be reprogrammed into functional neurons, offering new possibilities for treating brain injuries and neurodegenerative diseases.
Prof. Götz is Director of the Institute of Stem Cell Research at Helmholtz Center Munich and Chair of Physiological Genomics at Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität, Munich.
“Professor Götz’s work brings us closer to regenerating damaged brain tissue and restoring cognitive function for patients with neurological conditions,” said Belén Garijo, Chair of the Executive Board and CEO of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany.
“Our work started with basic questions about brain development,” said Prof. Götz. “It’s rewarding to see it leading toward real-world treatments in regenerative medicine.”
Her research has transformed how scientists understand brain development. Her team showed that glial cells, once thought to serve only support roles in the brain, can act as neural stem cells and be reprogrammed into neurons. This approach could one day help replace brain cells lost to diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Prof. Götz has earned several scientific awards, including the Roger de Spoelberch Prize, and has published widely in top journals. She also invented a technique to reprogram glial cells into neurons, a potential strategy for future therapies.
Since its launch in 2018, the Future Insight Prize has recognized scientists whose research could lead to significant innovations that benefit humanity. The 2026 prize will focus on developing a “smart health sensor”—a non-invasive wearable device that can continuously monitor vital signs and detect early molecular changes linked to disease.