Paul Ehrlich Foundation

The Paul Ehrlich Foundation is a legally dependent foundation of the Association of Friends and Benefactors of Goethe University.

The purpose of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation is to cultivate the intellectual tradition and memory of Paul Ehrlich (1854-1915) while respecting the will of its founder, in particular by acknowledging scientists from at home and abroad who have accomplished outstanding achievements in the areas of immunology, cancer research, haematology, microbiology and chemotherapy in which Paul Ehrlich worked.

The Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Prize numbers among the most prestigious distinctions awarded in Germany in the field of medical science. The prize is traditionally conferred on Paul Ehrlich's birthday, 14 March, in St. Paul's Church, Frankfurt.
The prize is worth €120,000 (status as of 2023). Prizewinners are selected by the Scientific Council of the Paul Ehrlich Foundation. To date, the prize has been conferred on 128 scientists. 26 prize winners are also Nobel Prize laureates (list of Nobel Prize Winners) (status as of 2023).

Since 2006, the Paul Ehrlich Foundation has additionally awarded the Paul Ehrlich and Ludwig Darmstaedter Early Career Award to a young personality who has accomplished outstanding achievements in the field of biomedical research at a German research institution. The Early Career Award is worth €60,000 and financed from earmarked donations from the same companies, foundations and institutions as the main prize (status as of 2023).