(Vienna, 02 April 2026) Johanna Strobl from the Department of Dermatology at MedUni Vienna has been awarded the inaugural Gerold Stanek Prize. The prize recognises outstanding scientific achievements by young researchers in the field of tick-borne diseases.
The “Gerold Stanek Prize for Excellence in Research on Tick-Borne Diseases” was awarded for the first time in 2026 at the International Symposium on Tick-Borne Pathogens and Disease (ITPD) in Vienna. The award is endowed with 5,000 euros and is aimed at early-career researchers under the age of 40 who have distinguished themselves through outstanding research achievements in the field of tick-borne diseases.
The inaugural award to Johanna Strobl recognises a piece of scientific work that stands out particularly in a field of research relevant to infectious medicine.
In memory of Gerold Stanek
The prize commemorates the late Gerold Stanek, who led the Department of Infection Immunology (Institute for Hygiene, MedUni Vienna) and had a significant influence on research into tick-borne diseases over many decades. His scientific focus was particularly on Lyme disease. Furthermore, he was deeply committed to scientific excellence, international networking and the targeted support of young researchers.
International award with strong professional roots
The prize is awarded jointly by INSTAND e.V. and the Austrian Society for Hygiene, Microbiology and Preventive Medicine (ÖGHMP) in close collaboration with the ESCMID Study Group for Tick-Borne Diseases (ESGBOR). The award builds on the scientific legacy of Gerold Stanek and aims to highlight excellent research in a highly relevant medical field.
About the recipient
Johanna Strobl is a specialist and principal investigator at the Department of Dermatology, where she conducts research into the skin’s immune response to tick bites and Lyme disease, as well as chronic inflammatory skin conditions. Her work has been published in renowned specialist journals (including Nature Immunology, Science Translational Medicine and the Journal of Clinical Investigation) and has received numerous awards, including the Karl Landsteiner Prize from the Austrian Society for Immunology (ÖGAI), the Science Prize from the Austrian Society for Dermatology and the Dora Brücke-Teleky Award. Strobl is also a board member of the ÖGAI and the Working Group for Dermatological Research (ADF), and founder of the Next Generation Immunologists Austria.