(Vienna, 05 November 2026) Two female researchers from MedUni Vienna have been honoured with the City of Vienna’s 2026 awards: Irene Lang received the City of Vienna Prize, worth 10,000 euros, in the Medical Sciences category. Elma Hot Dervic was honoured in the same category with the City of Vienna Encouragement Award, which carries a prize of 5,000 euros. The City of Vienna Awards ceremony with City Councillor Veronica Kaup-Hasler took place on 4 November as part of an evening event.
Irene Lang, Professor of Vascular Biology at MedUni Vienna and a cardiologist, is one of the world’s leading experts on pulmonary vascular diseases. Together with the Okayama Medical Centre in Japan, she established pulmonary balloon angioplasty, a procedure used to treat blocked pulmonary arteries. The jury particularly commended her scientific achievements as well as her work as a mentor and international speaker.
Elma Hot Dervic’s research combines medicine, data science and innovation. Her work focuses on the analysis of health data to highlight disease risks and inequalities within the healthcare system. The jury also highlighted her integration of science and entrepreneurship, as well as her commitment to supporting the next generation of researchers.
The City of Vienna’s awards are presented annually, on the recommendation of independent expert committees, for outstanding achievements in the arts, culture, science and public education.
This year’s laureates include Toni Schmale and Robert Menasse in the categories of visual arts and literature respectively. Other laureates are Gabu Heindl (architecture), Enar de Dios Rodríguez (media art), Ingrid Brodnig (journalism) and Die Strottern (music).
In the field of humanities, social sciences, cultural studies, law and economics, the award goes to political scientist Barbara Prainsack. The prize in the category of mathematics, computer science, natural sciences and technology goes to Günter Blöschl (Vienna University of Technology), whilst the prize for public education goes to Hannes Sulzenbacher (Qwien and the Jewish Museum Vienna).
