Richard R. Ernst Prize Awarded to Professors Andrew Webb and Bernhard Blümich at EUROMAR 2024

Bilbao, Spain – July 1^st, 2024 – At the 2024 EUROMAR Conference, the Richard R. Ernst Prize was awarded to Prof. Andrew Webb from the Gorter MRI Center at the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC), The Netherlands and Prof. Bernhard Blümich from the Institute of Technical and Macromolecular Chemistry, RWTH Aachen University, Germany.

Professor Andrew G. Webb has been a pioneering force in the field of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), significantly advancing the understanding and capabilities needed to translate complex MR physics and engineering principles into practical clinical applications. As the founding Director of the Gorter MRI Center at the Leiden University Medical Center, his leadership and innovative approach to MRI technology has led to groundbreaking clinical research in the diagnosis and study of neurological diseases, with a particular focus on developing new hardware and software to fight against conditions such as Alzheimer’s and epilepsy. His dedication to making MRI technology more accessible is reflected in his work on portable MRI applications, which make it possible to bring this crucial diagnostic tool to under-resourced communities.

Professor Webb stated: “Innovation in this field never stops and one can obtain so much energy from applying the elegance of quantum mechanics to the moral imperatives of bringing MRI technology to people who currently have no access - all in addition to the opportunity to work with brilliant and impassioned people.”

Professor Dr. Bernhard Blümich is renowned for his extensive methodological work in Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and the development of the NMR-MOUSE, a hand-held NMR device that has revolutionized the way we analyze materials. At RWTH Aachen University, his research has provided deep insights into the molecular structure and dynamics of polymers and porous materials, with applications extending to the preservation of cultural heritage. Professor Blümich's work has expanded the possibilities of NMR, from the development of compact devices to the exploration of new methodologies and applications.

Professor Blümich stated: “I am grateful to the brilliant students, postdocs and collaborators in my team who shared my enthusiasm to venture into exploring unconventional NMR hardware, methods, and new applications.”

Lucio Frydman, Chair of the Award Committee and Professor at the Weizmann Institute stated: "The 2024 Richard R. Ernst Prize to Professors Blümich and Webb was awarded for their seminal contributions to the development and application of low-field magnetic resonance. The passion and the singular scientific achievements of Professors Webb and Blümich are truly inspiring. Their efforts in bringing NMR and MRI to new constituencies are a testament to the potential of this powerful scientific tool. We extend our sincere congratulations to them on this well-deserved recognition with the prestigious award.”

The Richard R. Ernst Prize was founded by EUROMAR with sponsorship by Bruker in 2016 to recognize recent beneficial methods and applications in Magnetic Resonance research. Named after the 1991 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, Prof. Richard R. Ernst, for his seminal contributions to the development of FT-NMR , the Richard R. Ernst Prize represents a significant recognition in the field of magnetic resonance research and its practical applications.

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