Cloëtta Prize

The Foundation awards every year a Prize to honour personalities in Switzerland and abroad who have distinguished themselves in a particular way in certain fields of medical research.

As a rule the Prize is awarded between September 1 and December 31 of every year. The Board of Foundation is responsible for the adjudication; if necessary, it may consult the opinion of independent experts.

The next price ceremony will take place on Friday, 24 November 2023.

Since 1974, the Golden Book of the Foundation has honoured the prize winners with a page bearing their original signatures. Here we show examples of the pages of the first two prize winners and two more recent prize winners: The Golden Book

Cloëtta Prize 2022 awarded to researchers from Zurich and Geneva

The Professor Dr Max Cloëtta Foundation awarded the 2022 Cloëtta Prize again to two prestigious scientists. Professor Annette Oxenius, Professor of Immunology at the ETH Zurich and Professor Doron Merkler, Full Professor of Neuropathology in the Department of Pathology and Immunology and Academic Coordinator of the Geneva Centre for Inflammation Research at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) Faculty of Medicine, and Associate Physician in the Division of Clinical Pathology of the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG) each received the scientific prize remunerated with 50,000 Swiss francs.

Annette Oxenius’ research centers around a better understanding of host-pathogen interactions, in particular how cells of the immune system can control or eliminate viral infections. infectious diseases and adaptive immunology.

Her internationally recognized oeuvre embodies an original and comprehensive approach to understanding fundamental mechanisms of how the immune system regulates and specifically adapts immune responses to the particular pathogen. This includes the analysis of the temporal dynamics of an immune response, the way immune cells in tissues exert their activity and how these processes are controlled at the molecular level. The focus of these analyses is on the so-called T- and B-lymphocytes, a group of white blood cells that can recognise and kill virus-infected cells or produce virus-specific antibodies. The work of Annette Oxenius and her team is basic research, the findings of which form the basis for developing potentially new immunological interventions for viral infections.

Doron Merkler is one of the world’s leading neuropathologists in the field of inflammatory brain research. He has made highly original and relevant discoveries regarding protective and harmful immune responses in the central nervous system (CNS).  Among other things, his studies provided important insights into the mechanisms involved in the lesion pathogenesis of patients suffering from chronic neuroinflammatory diseases, including multiple sclerosis (MS) and encephalitis. His exemplary translational research offers both a better understanding of immunopathology as well as of the design of novel therapeutic strategies to combat disabling immune diseases of the CNS. It has further opened an innovative new avenue of research with eminent clinical implications.

The video of the prize ceremony can be viewed here:
Video Clo¨etta Prize 2022

Pictures of the award ceremony 2022:

Cloëtta prize winners:

Prof. Dr. Annette Oxenius
ETH Zurich
Prof. Dr. Bart Deplancke
Professor of Systems Biology and Genetics and Vice-Dean of Innovation at the School of Life Sciences and Institute of Bioengineering at the EPFL and Group Leader at the Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics
Prof. Dr. Anne Müller
University of Zurich and Director at the Institute of Molecular Cancer Research at the Medical Faculty of the University of Zurich
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Bentires-Alj
University and University Hospital of Basel
Prof. Dr. Nadia Mercader Huber
University of Bern
Prof. Dr. Botond Roska
Institute of Molecular and Clinical Ophthalmology Basel (IOB) and University of Basel
Prof. Dr. Oliver Distler
Clinic of Rheumatology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich
Prof Denis Jabaudon
Université de Genève, Neuroscience Center
Prof Markus G. Manz
UniversitätsSpital Zürich, Klinik für Hämatologie und Onkologie
Prof. Andreas Lüthi
Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Reaearch
Prof. Michel Gilliet
Department of Dermatology, University Hospital of Lausanne
Prof. Dominique Soldati-Favre
University of Geneva
Prof. Andreas Papassotiropoulos
University of Basel
Prof. Dominique J.-F. de Quervain
University of Basel
Prof. Dr. Olaf Blanke
Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL)
Prof. Dr. Petra S. Hüppi
Université de Genève
Prof. Christian Lüscher
Université de Genève
Prof. Burkhard Becher
Universität Zürich
Prof. Margot Thome Miazza
Université de Lausanne
Prof. Walter Reith
Université de Genève
Prof. Darius Moradpour
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Lausanne
Prof. Sabine Werner
ETH Zürich
Prof. Adrian Merlo
Universitätsspital Basel
Prof. Michael Hengartner
Universität Zürich
Prof. Dr. Urs Albrecht
Université de Fribourg
Prof. Dominique Muller
Université de Genève
Prof. Dr. Amalio Telenti
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire, Lausanne
Prof. Dr. Michael N. Hall
Biozentrum der Universität Basel
PD Dr. Bernhard Moser
Theodor Kocher-Institut der Universität Bern
Prof. Dr. Bernard Thorens
nstitut de Pharmacologie et Toxicologie et Institut de Physiologie Université de Lausanne
Prof. Dr. Andrea Superti-Furga
Kinderspital Zürich
Professor Dr. Isabel Roditi
Institut für Zellbiologie der Universität Bern
Dr. Thierry Calandra
Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Vaudois, Lausanne
Professor Dr. Clemens A. Dahinden
Medizinische Fakultät der Universität Bern und Institut für Immunologie und Allergologie am Inselspital, Bern

Pathophysiologie der allergischen Entzündung

Professor Dr. Antonio Lanzavecchia
Istituto di Ricerca in Biomedicina Bellinzona

Deciphering the signals that regulate T cell mediated immunity

Professor Dr. Adriano Aguzzi
Universität Zürich Departement Pathologie

Pathophysiologie der Prionen-Krankheiten

Professor Dr. Primus E. Mullis
Inselspital Bern Medizinische Universitäts-Kinderklinik

Short stature: from the growth hormone axis to the Development of the pituitary gland

1997

Dr. Gerard Waeber

Metabolisme moleculaire de la cellule insulino-secretrice

Professor Dr. Denis Duboule

Genetic control of limb morphogenesis and evolution

1996

Dr. Lukas C. Kühn

Molekulare Mechanismen zur Steuerung des Eisenstoffwechsels

Professor Dr. Peter Sonderegger

Wegweiser- und Sensormoleküle beim gezielten Wachstum der NervenzeIlausläufer

1995

Professor Dr. Jürg Reichen

Die sinusoidale Endothelzelle und Leberfunktion

Dr. George Thomas jr.

The p70s6k Signal Transduction Pathway, S6, Phosphorylation and Translational Control

1994

Professor Dr. rer. nat. Hans Rudolf Brenner

Die Regulation der Expression synaptischer Transmitter-Rezeptoren während der Synapsenbildung

Daniel Pablo Lew, Professeur ordinaire de médecine

Signal Transduction and Ion Channels Involved in the Activation of Human Neutrophils

1993

Dr. Paolo Meda

Cell-to-cell Communication and Pancreas Secretion

Professor Dr. Adriano Fontana

Transforming Growth Factor Beta 2, ein von Tumorzellen gebildetes Zytokin mit immunparalysierender Wirkung

1992

Professor Dr. Michel Aguet

Neue Erkenntnisse zur Biologie und Molekularbiologie der Interferone

1991

PD Dr. Peter J. Meier-Abt

Die Ausscheidungsfunktionen der Leber: Rolle von Membrantrans-port-Systemen

PD Dr. Jacques Philippe

Structure and pancreatic expression of the insulin and glucagon genes

1990

Professor Dr. Martin E. Schwab

Entwicklung, Stabilisierung und Regeneration von Faserverbindungen in Gehirn und Rückenmark: Die Rolle von Nervenwachstums-Hemmstoffen

Professor Dr. Denis Monard

Protéases et inhibiteurs extracellulaires dans le systeme nerveux

1989

Professor Dr. Heini Murer

Parathormon: Auf dem Weg zum Verständnis seiner Wirkung im proximalen Tubulus

Dr. Hugh Robson MacDonald

Selection of the T Cell Antigen Receptor Repertoire during Development

1988

Professor Dr. Jean-Dominique Vassalli

Protéolyse et migrations cellulaires: Multiples facettes du contrôle d ‘une cascade enzymatique

PD Dr. Hans Hengartner

Über die immunologische Toleranz

1987

Professor Dr. Jacques Louis

Rôle des Iymphocytes T spécifiques sur I’évolution des lésions induites par leishmania major, un parasite vivant dans les macrophages de leur hôte

Professor Dr. Joachim H. Seelig

Magnetische Resonanz – ein “magnetisches Auge” zur Untersuchung der Lebensvorgänge in vivo

1986

Professor Dr. Ueli Schibler

Mechanismen der gewebespezifischen Regulation von Genen

Professor Dr. Walter Schaffner

Enhancer-Sequenzen und die Regulation der Gen- Transkription

1985

Professor Dr. Hans Thoenen

Entwicklungsneurobiologie; von der deskriptiven Analyse zum molekularen Verständnis

Dr. Roberto Montesano

Cell-Extracellular Matrix lnteractions in Organogenesis

1984

Frau Professor Dr. Heidi Diggelmann

Beiträge der Retroviren zur Aufklärung grundlegender biologischer Prozesse

Professor Dr. Jean-François Borel

Entwicklung und Bedeutung des Ciclosporins

1983

Professor Dr. Peter Böhlen

Peptides and Proteins as messengers in the communication between cells and organs

PD Dr. Claes B. Wollheim

Regulation of insulin release by intracellular calcium

1982

PD Dr. Jürgen Zapf

Wachstum und Wachstumsstörungen: ein gemeinsames Forschungsziel der klinischen und experimentellen Endokrinologie

PD Dr Jean-Michel Dayer

Le monocyte-macrophage: un pivot entre le système immun et le tissu conjonctif dans le processus inflammatoire de I’arthrite rhumatoïde

1981

Professor Dr. Rolf Zinkernagel

“Selbst”-Erkennung in der Immunologie

Professor Dr. Peter A. Cerutti

A role for active oxygen species in human carcinogenesis?

1980

Professor Dr. Edward W. Flückiger

Neue Aspekte der Mutterkorn-Pharmakologie

PD Dr. Albert Burger

Ein Vierteljahrhundert nach Entdeckung des aktivsten Schilddrüsenhormons (Trijodothyronin)

1979

Professor Dr. Theodor Koller

Die strukturelle Organisation des genetischen Apparates höherer Organismen

Professor Dr. Jean-Pierre Kraehenbuehl

Hormonal Control of the Differentiation of the Mammary Gland

1978

Dr. Susumu Tonegawa

Cloning of Immunoglobulin Genes

1977

Professor Dr. Franz Oesch

Chemisch ausgelöste Krebsentstehung

1976

Dr. Rui C. de Sousa

La membrane cellulaire: une frontière entre deux mondes

1975

Dr. med. Hans Bürgi

Die Bekämpfung des Kropfes in der Schweiz. Ein Beispiel der Zusammenarbeit zwischen Grundlagenwissenschaftern, Klinikern und Behörden

1974

Dr. med. Urs A. Meyer

Klinische Pharmakologie – eine Herausforderung für interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit