Pioneering Cardiologist Ursula Ravens Wins Prestigious Schmiedeberg Medal for Arrhythmia Research
Pioneering Cardiologist Ursula Ravens Wins Prestigious Schmiedeberg Medal for Arrhythmia Research
Pioneering Cardiologist Ursula Ravens Wins Prestigious Schmiedeberg Medal for Arrhythmia Research
Professor Ursula Ravens has been awarded the Schmiedeberg Medal, the highest honour from the German Society for Experimental and Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology (DGPT). The award recognises her pioneering work on cardiac arrhythmias, particularly atrial fibrillation. The ceremony took place on March 18, 2026, during the 11th German Pharm-Tox Summit in Düsseldorf. Ursula Ravens studied medicine in Freiburg and Vienna before becoming the first woman in Germany to hold a chair in pharmacology and toxicology. She currently serves as a visiting professor at the Institute of Experimental Cardiovascular Medicine in Freiburg. Her research has focused on the molecular mechanisms of atrial fibrillation, including the role of connective tissue cells in the condition.
The DGPT praised her decades of dedication to both research and teaching. The Schmiedeberg Medal celebrates exceptional contributions in pharmacology, clinical pharmacology, and toxicology. Ravens' work has advanced understanding of heart rhythm disorders, though specific clinical applications from her early research remain part of broader developments in treatment methods. Today, therapies for atrial fibrillation include catheter ablation, cryoablation, and antiarrhythmic medications. Recent studies continue to explore new approaches, such as tissue ablation techniques, building on foundational research like hers.
The award highlights Ravens' long-standing influence in cardiovascular science. Her career has broken barriers for women in academic medicine while shaping research into heart disease. The recognition also underscores the importance of fundamental science in developing future treatments.
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