Since its inception the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation has supported the University Children's Hospital Zurich – Eleonore Foundation (Kispi), donating a total of CHF 70 million for pioneering research projects and infrastructure such as the GMP lab for skin replacements and the stem cell lab. As part of this collaboration, the “University Children's Hospital Zurich Thomas and Doris Ammann Prize” will be awarded from 2026 onwards for outstanding achievements in pediatric medicine. The prize has an endowment of CHF 200,000 and goes to an outstanding and internationally recognized individual who has contributed greatly to pediatric research or clinical practice.

The jury is made up of five to seven internationally recognized experts from the fields of research and clinical practice. They represent the various disciplines of pediatric medicine and regions of the world: Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, Oceania. The jury members are appointed by the committee. Each jury member serves for three years, and no member may serve for more than six years in total. At least four regions of the world must be represented on the jury. A region is regarded as represented if the relevant jury member lives in that region.

Each member of the jury may nominate a maximum of one person per prize category. The jury draws up a written proposal for the Committee on the award of the prize, stating its reasons for selecting the nominee.

The committee selecting the prize winners is made up of five people. Two members are appointed by the Thomas and Doris Ammann Foundation, and two by the Eleonore Foundation, operating the University Children’s Hospital Zurich. The Foundation and the Children's Hospital jointly agree on the fifth member. This individual acts as chairperson.

The committee decides who should receive the prizes based on the proposals from the interdisciplinary and international jury. 

When nominating candidates and proposing the laureate the jury considers the following criteria:

a.         Scientific quality and clinical relevance;

b.         Innovation potential;

c.         International reach;

d.         Career-developing nature (in the case of young talent prizes);

e.         Interdisciplinary collaboration and translational approach.

The ceremony for the University Children’s Hospital Zurich Thomas and Doris Ammann Prize will be held on Thursday, March 12, 2026, at the Kispi’s Research and Teaching Building.

If you have any questions, please write an email to @email.

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