Fraunhofer IZI’s founding director honored for his dedication to the city of Leipzig

News /

Prof. Dr. Frank Emmrich, founder of the Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI, was presented with the Leipziger Lerche award on January 31st, 2025. This award modelled on the famous "Leipzig lark" pastry is endowed by Verein Gemeinsam für Leipzig e.V.

Frank Emmrich, elderly gentleman, festively dressed in a suit in the conference hall at the Fraunhofer IZI.
© Fraunhofer IZI
Prof. Dr. Frank Emmrich at the Fraunhofer Life Science Symposium 2018. The event was held in his honor on September 27, 2018.
Frank Emmrich, festively dressed in a suit, behind a lectern.
© Fraunhofer IZI
Prof. Dr. Frank Emmrich at the laying of the foundation stone for the Fraunhofer IZI on September 22, 2006.
Außenansicht des Instituts: Hauptgebäude und zweiter Erweiterungsbau
© Fraunhofer IZI
Building of the Fraunhofer IZI in Leipzig.

The 2024 Leipziger Lerche award was presented to Prof. Dr. Frank Emmrich at the New Year reception of Gemeinsam für Leipzig e.V. on January 31, 2025. This award recognizes people who have made special contributions to Leipzig. Candidates for the award are selected by former Leipzigers without conditions provided by the association making the award. Previous winners of the award have included, e.g., the director of the Leipzig Bach Festival and the animal keepers at Leipzig zoo.

Before Prof. Dr. Emmrich came to Leipzig University as professor of clinical immunology in 1994, he had worked at the German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ) in Heidelberg, the Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology in Freiburg and Friedrich-Alexander-University in Erlangen. In 2005, Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology IZI was founded in Leipzig upon an initiative by Prof. Dr. Frank Emmrich. As a result of his visionary research strategy, Prof. Dr. Emmerich was able to convince many stakeholders in the city, the Free State of Saxony, and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft and, hence, ensure the necessary support for his project. Ultimately, success would prove him right. Under his management, the institute grew to more than 500 employees during the first ten years and became an internationally renowned center for the development of cell and gene therapies. At the end of 2017, Prof. Dr. Emmrich handed over the helm to Prof. Dr. Dr. Ulrike Köhl. On April 29, 2025, the institute is to celebrate its 20th anniversary with now more than 600 employees, roughly 400 of whom work at the main site in Leipzig.

In addition to his work as a scientist, Prof. Dr. Frank Emmrich has also displayed active social commitment: For eight years, from 2008 to 2016, he was a member of the German Ethics Board, where he dealt with questions of biotechnology research and regeneration medicine.

Prof. Dr. Dr. Ulrike Köhl, director of Fraunhofer IZI, paid tribute to him: "Professor Frank Emmrich very successfully managed Fraunhofer IZI during its founding and development phase. Our esteemed colleague’s charisma brought many bright minds to Leipzig, and, through his research, he has made important contributions in the field of immunology and regenerative medicine. I commend Leipziger Lerche for their excellent choice of winner – and, of course, I congratulate Professor Emmrich on this wonderful award."

Gemeinsam für Leipzig e.V. and “Leipziger Lerche”

The association "Gemeinsam für Leipzig e.V." (United for Leipzig) was founded by Leipzig entrepreneurs in 2001 and today has 120 members, who are all dedicated to Leipzig and the surrounding region. The association’s website explains the award as follows: "The Leipziger Lerche is an award and an incentive at the same time. It aims to honor people whose heart beats for Leipzig, who are worthy representatives of this city and its citizens, who embody the spirit of Leipzig and who benefit the city and the region through their own reputation and achievements".