The Federation of European Biochemical Societies awards the Sir Hans Krebs Medal annually in recognition of outstanding scientific achievements in the fields of biochemistry and molecular biology. In 2027, the prestigious award goes to Elke Deuerling from the Department of Biology at the University of Konstanz. She is regarded as a pioneer in proteostasis research.
Molecular biologist Elke Deuerling from Konstanz focuses on the protein balance within our cells and on deciphering the molecular processes that maintain this balance, thereby ensuring the health and viability of our organism. In recognition of her outstanding research achievements in this field, she is awarded the 2027 Sir Hans Krebs Medal by the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS). As is customary for laureates, she will give a plenary lecture on her research in July 2027 at the FEBS Congress in Riga (Latvia) – the "Sir Hans Krebs Medal Lecture".
"I am delighted to receive this prestigious award, which I see as a special recognition of my work. It is a great honour to be included among the previous medal winners", says Deuerling. Among the 54 scientists who were awarded the Sir Hans Krebs Medal before her, there are no less than 19 Nobel laureates.
Keeping the protein balance
Elke Deuerling's research focuses on the proteome – that is the entire set of proteins in our cells. A functional proteome is crucial for the viability of any organism, from bacteria to humans. This functionality is upheld by the continuous renewal and precise regulation of cellular protein levels, a process known as proteostasis. With her work in molecular biology, Deuerling is regarded as a pioneer in proteostasis research. In earlier studies on bacterial chaperones – the "folding assistants" of proteins – she uncovered, for example, how the chaperone "trigger factor" protects nascent proteins in bacterial cells from misfolding and unwanted degradation. Her findings significantly contributed to a new understanding of how proteins are protected in their delicate formation phase.
In her current research, Deuerling is investigating the molecular processes of protein synthesis and modification also in higher organisms, where these processes are far more complex and less well understood to date. In a series of high-ranking scientific publications, she described, for example, the various functions of the protein complex NAC (nascent polypeptide-associated complex). She was able to demonstrate that these functions range from the regulation of the synthesis speed of nascent proteins to the temporal-spatial coordination of competing protein modifications and to logistical tasks within the cell. This way, Deuerling's team expanded the concept of the NAC into a multifunctional control centre that plays a central role for the maintenance of our cellular functions.
Deuerling's work consistently yields new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying proteostasis, which are essential for the viability and health of organisms. Along the way, she has already received multiple research awards and honours. For example, Elke Deuerling was elected as a member of the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) in 2023 and received the Neupert Medal from the Walter & Monika Neupert Stiftung in 2025. She was elected a member of the Leopoldina, the German National Academy of Sciences (Class II – Life Sciences) in April of 2026.
About the FEBS and the Sir Hans Krebs Medal
The Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS) is a large European umbrella organization for subject-specific organizations in the field of biochemistry, with a total of 39 member organizations at present. Each year, the FEBS awards the Sir Hans Krebs Medal to outstanding researchers actively working in Europe. The medal is named for the German-British biochemist Sir Hans Adolf Krebs (1900–1981), a trailblazer in modern biochemistry, who is well known for his work in discovering the urea cycle and the citric acid cycle – for which he received the Nobel Prize in Medicine in 1953.
Key facts:
- Professor Elke Deuerling receives the 2027 Sir Hans Adolf Krebs Medal from the Federation of European Biochemical Societies (FEBS). During the FEBS' 51st congress taking place in July of 2027 in Riga (Latvia), she will hold the corresponding Sir Hans Krebs Medal Lecture.
- Professor Deuerling's research focuses on deciphering the molecular mechanisms by which newly synthesized proteins are recognized, modified and transported to their correct cellular destination to maintain vital proteostasis.
From our previous coverage of Elke Deuerling's research: