For the discovery of genomic imprinting, developmental biologists Davor Solter and Azim Surani will receive the 2026 Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize, endowed with €120,000, on March 14 at the Paulskirche in Frankfurt. They discovered that we inherit certain genes only in one active copy, determined by a molecular marker that identifies maternal or paternal origin – thus laying the foundation for the field of epigenetics. The Early Career Award will go to neuroscientist Varun Venkataramani, who showed that malignant brain tumors accelerate growth by tapping nerve currents, helping to establish the field of cancer neuroscience.
A long-standing principle of genetics held that each cell in the body contains two active copies of each gene. In 1984, Davor Solter and Azim Surani overturned this basic rule. They showed that some genes are inherited only in one active copy – either the maternal or paternal copy is permanently switched off. Working independently but in parallel, they used a cell nucleus transplantation technique developed by Solter to show that mouse embryos containing only maternal or only paternal genetic material were not viable—contrary to established dogma. Their findings revealed that mammals, including humans, require the full genetic contribution of both parents. This distinguishes them from species that can reproduce through parthenogenesis from unfertilized eggs. The underlying mechanism: of the two copies of genes inherited from mother and father, some are selectively turned off by epigenetic imprints – small molecular tags attached to DNA. Surani called this phenomenon genomic imprinting.
This discovery was a turning point in modern genetics. It showed that our phenotype is not only determined by genotype, but is also shaped by epigenetic marks.”
Prof. Thomas Boehm, President of the Scientific Council
Genomic imprinting is essential for healthy fetal development as it balances the competition for limited resources between mother and fetus. Its medical importance extends far beyond embryology: We know that about one percent of human genes are imprinted, many of them embedded in signaling pathways that influence health and disease in adulthood. The discovery of genomic imprinting led to modern epigenetics—the study of the molecular mechanisms that regulate gene expression without changing the DNA sequence. Epigenetic changes play a key role in cancer, for example – an insight that has already led to the development of targeted therapies.
Brain tumors do not arise from nerve cells, which – with few exceptions – no longer divide. Most are gliomas, which arise from glial cells that normally support and nourish nerve cells. Varun Venkataramani discovered that gliomas form synapses with neurons, allowing them to tap into the electrical signals that drive tumor growth and spread. Over the past decade, he and his mentors have validated and deepened this unexpected finding, helping to establish the field of cancer neuroscience. The work also opened up a new therapeutic avenue: interrupting the tumor’s access to nerve signaling to halt its growth – an approach currently being tested in a Phase II clinical trial.
