The RMU Award for Pharmaceutical Research & Innovative Medical Therapies, sponsored by Frankfurt Foundation Quality of Medicines, recognizes Dr. Tamer Butto, junior professor at Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz since July 2026, for his innovative research idea aimed at improving the diagnosis of rare genetic disorders. The novel approach combines cutting-edge RNA sequencing with the aim of gaining a better understanding of individual disease mechanisms and, in the longer term, opening up new avenues for targeted therapies. His research thus strengthens the RMU Area of Potential Emerging Targets and Transformative Therapies. 

This year’s Sibylle Kalkhof-Rose RMU Award recognizes Prof. Dr. C. Katharina Spieß of Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz for her outstanding body of scholarly work in education, family, and population research. Her research has not only had a lasting impact on these fields and helped create important foundations for future research, but has also been particularly successful in bringing scientific evidence into policy and society. With her research, she contributes to the RMU Research Focal Area Challenging Societal Orders. As director of the Federal Institute for Population Research (BiB), Spieß also plays an important role in the regional research network and strengthens collaboration within it.