On 26 February 2024, Giulio Superti-Furga had the pleasure and honor to receive the Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class (Österreichisches Ehrenkreuz I. Klasse für Wissenschaft und Kunst) from the Austrian President Professor Alexander Van der Bellen.

The Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art, First Class is awarded based on the recommendation of the Federal Government. Established in 1955, this Austrian state decoration recognizes both, Austrians and leading foreign figures who have distinguished themselves and earned general acclaim through especially superior creative and commendable services in the areas of the sciences or the arts.

Giulio Superti-Furga: “It is a tremendous honor to receive this significant distinction, which recognizes not only the work I was fortunate enough to undertake in this highly supportive and generous country, but also the collective efforts of our entire institute. I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the President of Austria, Prof. Dr. Alexander Van der Bellen, and the Minister of Education, Science and Research, Prof. Dr. Martin Polaschek, for bestowing upon me this award. Furthermore, my thanks extend to the President of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Prof. Dr. Heinz Faßmann, as well as the Rector of the Medical University of Vienna, Prof. Dr. med. Markus Müller, for their steadfast support. Finally, I am profoundly grateful to my laboratory team, the entirety of CeMM and its thriving spin-off community, Anita Ender for being an unwavering partner at the forefront of CeMM's endeavors, and my wife and family for their enduring love and patience.”

Giulio Superti-Furga is the Scientific Director of CeMM, the Research Center of Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, Professor of Medical Systems Biology at the Medical University of Vienna, and Director of the Ri.MED Foundation and its’ new Research Center in Sicily.

Giulio Superti-Furga is a full member of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, the German Academy of Sciences Leopoldina, the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), the European Academy of Cancer Sciences, and the Academia Europaea. He is Commander of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. He was Austria’s Scientist of the Year in 2011, and has been the recipient of several notable scientific awards. Among his most significant scientific achievements are the elucidation of basic regulatory mechanisms of tyrosine kinases in human cancers and the discovery of fundamental organization principles of the proteome of higher organisms. More recently, his research focus has been on membrane transporters and establishing their relevance as an emerging therapeutic target.

The scientific impact of Giulio Superti-Furga is complemented by his community work. From 2017 to 2019, Giulio Superti-Furga was a member of the Scientific Council of the European Research Council (ERC), and as of 2024 he is Chair of EU-LIFE, an alliance of 15 top life science institutes advocating for excellent research in Europe.

Giulio Superti-Furga has made important contributions in several areas, such as science innovation, training, science and art projects and outreach activities. He has built organizations that have a translational impact. His leadership skills are characterized by a strong sense of collaboration, and dedication to science. For 8 years, he has been the Chair of the EMBL Alumni Association, creating the EMBL Archive of Molecular Biology. He has initiated “Genom Austria”, an educational science project on genome sequencing, allowing a wide public to consider and discuss the advantages and challenges of genomic medicine based on real examples. In 2005 Giulio Superti-Furga started CeMM, the Research Center for Molecular Medicine in Vienna literally from scratch. CeMM discovers and develops technologies to explore human biology with the purpose of defeating disease at its roots. That CeMM is one of the top life science institutes in Europe is also evidenced by its successful spin-off companies. Various products and services in the field of therapy and diagnostics that have been produced since CeMM was founded are now improving medical practice.

CeMM warmly congratulates Giulio Superti-Furga on his significant achievements and this well-deserved and honorable recognition!