RNA Pioneer Prof. Dr. Anastasia Khvorova Wins €2.5M Else Kröner Fresenius Prize

Meet the international pioneer in RNA research. Her work promises new treatments for aging-related diseases.

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2025 October 9 . 8:03 AM

1 min read

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RNA Pioneer Prof. Dr. Anastasia Khvorova Wins €2.5M Else Kröner Fresenius Prize

The Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research will be awarded on May 15, 2025, at the Staedel Museum in Frankfurt am Main. This prestigious prize, one of the most highly endowed in the world at 2.5 million euros, will be presented to Prof. Dr. Anastasia Khvorova, an RNA researcher at UMass Chan Medical School in Worcester, Massachusetts. The event, a closed one with RSVP required by May 10, 2025, to [email protected], will also celebrate the legacy of Else Kröner.

Khvorova, with over 20 years of experience in developing oligonucleotides for therapeutic purposes, is being honored for her significant contributions to RNA-based therapies. Her work promises new treatment approaches for genetic and neurodegenerative diseases like Huntington's chorea. She plans to use the prize money to develop novel RNA molecules that can prevent the production of toxic proteins in the brain, associated with aging processes and neurodegenerative diseases. Notably, despite her international research achievements, there is no evidence of Khvorova having any financial background or direct connection to Germany. A personal conversation with Khvorova can be arranged prior to the award ceremony.

The Else Kröner Fresenius Prize for Medical Research, first awarded in 2013, continues to recognize outstanding scientists like Khvorova. Her work, focused on RNA molecules to prevent toxic protein production, holds great promise for treating aging-related and neurodegenerative diseases. The award ceremony, part of the celebrations for the 100th birthday of Else Kröner, will take place at the Staedel Museum in Frankfurt am Main.