NVBMB news (May): Milan Declaration and H.G.K. Westenbrink Prize

NVBMB signs the Milan Declaration

The NVBMB proudly supports the Milan Declaration, which underscores the crucial importance of science in addressing global challenges. Chair Janine Post signed the declaration on behalf of the society and calls upon all members to do the same individually and to help spread the message.

The declaration, drawn up during the FEBS anniversary meeting on 29 June 2024 in Milan, emphasises sustainable development, ethical collaboration, and societal progress. The support of 55 Nobel laureates demonstrates the broad backing within the international scientific community. Through this signing, the NVBMB reaffirms its commitment to a future in which science contributes to an inclusive, sustainable, and prosperous world. The Milan Declaration highlights, amongst other things, the importance of:

• Global scientific collaboration free from bias
• Strengthening science on both ethical and financial grounds
• Solutions to urgent challenges such as ageing populations, environmental pollution, food security, and inequality
• Knowledge sharing and collaboration as drivers of innovation and global prosperity

Policymakers are also called upon to actively support science: by investing in talent, inclusivity, and mobility, and by safeguarding scientific freedom and communication. Read more and sign the declaration.

Max Gemmer wins the H.G.K. Westenbrink Prize 2023–2024

Dr Max Gemmer receives the H.G.K. Westenbrink Prize 2023–2024 for his doctoral thesis ‘Visualizing Protein Biogenesis at the ER Membrane‘, carried out at Utrecht University in the group of Prof. Dr Friedrich Förster (Bijvoet Center for Biomolecular Research).

The jury praised Gemmer’s thesis as innovative, rigorous, and technically impressive. Using a combination of cryo-electron tomography, cryo-EM, single-particle analysis, and mass spectrometry, Gemmer mapped the molecular landscape of the ribosome-associated ER translocon in exceptional detail. His analysis of 150,000 ribosomes revealed how polysomes recruit diverse modules in a structured manner, including insertases, chaperones, and the oligosaccharyltransferase OST.

The research yields fundamentally new insights into the dynamics of protein biogenesis at the ER membrane and contributes to our understanding of cellular stress and disease. The publications arising from this work in leading journals attest to the quality and impact of his contributions. The jury therefore anticipates that this work will be widely cited in the years ahead. Gemmer distinguishes himself not only through scientific excellence, but also through his ability to make complex subject matter accessible to a broad audience. The award ceremony will take place during the NVBMB Spring Symposium 2025, where he will present his work.