Beijerinck Virology Prize awarded to Ron Fouchier and Beijerinck Premium to Daniel Hurdiss

M.W. Beijerinck Virology Prize - Ron Fouchier

Ron Fouchier (born 1966) began his career researching HIV/AIDS, but later switched to respiratory viruses such as influenza. Now he is one of the leading authorities on respiratory viruses and their impact on human and animal health.
 
Fouchier set up a research group within the Department of Viroscience at the Erasmus University Medical Centre (Rotterdam) to study the molecular biology and evolution of influenza viruses. With his team, he discovered and characterised a number of newly emerging respiratory viruses, including several corona viruses and a new avian influenza (“bird flu”) virus.
 
As a professor of molecular virology at the Erasmus University Medical Centre, Fouchier studies how viruses evolve and can become pathogenic, switch hosts, become airborne, and escape the host’s immune system. He uses his findings to develop applications for human and animal health. As managing director of the national influenza centre, he improved the methodology for selecting the optimum flu vaccine each year. In 1998, he launched a Dutch avian flu monitoring network, one of the most effective and longest-running programmes in the world.
 
Fouchier has involved numerous young researchers in all his initiatives. He has supervised many PhD candidates and students; eight team members or former team members have started an independent research group and have become professors themselves.

Beijerinck Premium - Daniel Hurdiss

Daniel Hurdiss (born 1990) studies the three-dimensional structure of virus proteins and how it is linked to their function. By understanding how viruses penetrate and take over host cells, and subsequently escape from them again, he hopes to identify new targets for virus inhibitors in the form of small molecules or biological drugs. He aims to use this knowledge to develop new methods for preventing or treating infections. He has revealed many virus structures and virus-receptor interactions using cryo-electron microscopy, in which plunge freezing technology makes it possible to study biomolecules at an unprecedented level of detail.
 
Hurdiss shares his work with a wide audience through presentations and social media. The jury views him as an outstanding researcher who is rapidly gaining a leading position in virology research, but also as an inspiration to young researchers.
 
Daniel Hurdiss is an assistant professor at Utrecht University’s Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology.

Presentation ceremony and Beijerinck Lectures

The Academy’s Beijerinck Prizes will be presented on Friday 10 March 2023, during the Dutch Annual Virology Symposium (DAVS). Ron Fouchier will deliver the Beijerinck Lecture and Daniel Hurdiss will give a short presentation about his work.

About the prizes

The M.W. Beijerinck Virology Prize is awarded once every two years to a researcher who has distinguished themself internationally in the field of virology. The Beijerinck Premium is awarded annually to a young researcher to encourage virology research.