Thursday, 12 September, 2019
Galenus Technology Prize for Ulrich Lächelt
For his innovative research on “Metal-Organic Nanopharmaceuticals” Dr Ulrich Lächelt receives the 10th Galenus Technology Prize. The pharmacist is head of a research group at the Chair of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology at the LMU Munich.
Dr Ulrich Lächelt is extraordinary CeNS member, and since 2015 he has been heading a research group at the Chair of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology of Professor Ernst Wagner at LMU Munich.
The research of the pharmacist focuses on new routes and materials for drug delivery. His innovative concept on “Metal-Organic Nanopharmaceuticals” could convince a panel of experts. For further approaches in the development of his nanoparticular metal-organic pharmaceutical carrier systems he receives the Galenus Technology Prize 2019 which is endowed with 5,000 Euro.
In his project, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), which represent materials with very high porosity, are utilized and modified for the application as drug carriers in biological environment. In addition, drug molecules containing Lewis base functions in their molecular structure are directly converted into nanoparticles by interaction with metal ions. Since the resulting coordination polymers in large part consist of the drug molecules, such nanopharmaceuticals exhibit very high drug loading at low amounts of additives.
Progress through promotion
The Austrian Galenus Foundation aims to support young scientists as PostDocs, Habilitands, Assistant and Junior Professors in the pharmaceutical technology and biopharmacological field since 2004. The foundation bi-annually awards the Galenus Technology Prize and annual Galenus Supports, as well as funding of guest professorships and international workshops.
The Galenus Technology Prize acknowledges innovative research projects in the field of pharmaceutical technologies. The Prize will be awarded during a ceremony at the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna on 14 November 2019. (IA)
Source: 
Nanosystems Initiative Munich