35th Anniversary of the Force Foundation: The Alsatian Healthcare Ecosystem Celebrates Its Award Recipients
Photo credit: Nis&For
On Tuesday, June 16, the National Institute of Public Service in Strasbourg hosted the annual awards ceremony for the Force Foundation’s Health Innovation and Research Awards. Organized under the leadership of Prof. Jean Sibilia, president of the Foundation, and his team, this event marked a historic milestone: the 35th anniversary of this recognized public-interest institution’s commitment.
Photo credit: Nis&For
This anniversary celebration provided an opportunity to celebrate the richness and collective strength of the Alsatian healthcare ecosystem by highlighting the projects selected for the 2026 edition.
Congratulations to the seven winners who are shaping the future of medicine: Romain Kessler, Romeo Ricci, Julie Helms, Ariane Zaloszyc, Jérémie Rey, as well as the innovative companies Neolys Diagnostics and Smartbiotic.
To mark this 35th anniversary, the Foundation also awarded its first “Force Medals,” intended to recognize exceptional scientific careers. Upon the recommendation of the Scientific Council, chaired by Nobel Prize in Medicine laureate Jules Hoffmann, the Robert Lohr Medal was awarded to Thomas Baumert in recognition of his lifetime of research. The Jules Hoffmann Medal was awarded to two young researchers for their promising discoveries: Claire Villette and François Lecomte-Denis.
As witnesses to and advocates of this regional initiative, Professor Christian Debry, director of the IHU, shared the stage with Samir Henni, CEO of the Strasbourg University Hospitals, to lead a panel discussion with Franck Mouthon, former president of France Biotech, who highlighted the exemplary nature of Alsace’s partnership network for health research and innovation.
Photo credit: Nis&For
Learn more about the Force Foundation: https://fondation-force.fr
