The Deutsche Gesellschaft für Zellbiologie (DGZ; German Society for Cell Biology) Innovation Award this year has been awarded to Dr. Elias Barriga, a group leader at the Cluster of Excellence Physics of Life (PoL). This prestigious award recognizes outstanding contributions to cell biology and is specifically aimed at junior investigators who have already established a distinct research profile.
Dr. Barriga, who earned his PhD in Chile and completed his postdoctoral research at University College London (UCL), is a highly accomplished cell and developmental biologist. He first established his research group in Lisbon in 2019, before moving it to PoL in 2023. Since then, Dr. Barriga has received substantial international funding, including an ERC Starting Grant, an EMBO Installation grant, and a LaCaixa Fellowship. Dr Barriga has received previous recognition through awards such as the EMBO YIP award and Xenopus International Board Award. His work explores how tissue mechanics and bioelectric cues orchestrate collective cell migration and tissue regeneration. His work includes previous seminal discoveries, for example that tissue stiffening acts as a trigger for coordinated cell migration (Nature, 2018; Nature Materials 2022).
The DGZ Award Committee praised Dr. Barriga's work for having "introduced new conceptual frameworks in cell biology with a pipeline that continues to bring exciting new discoveries." A key example highlighted by the committee is his recent finding that mechanically induced endogenous electric fields guide collective cell migration via the voltage sensitive phosphatase Vsp1. These groundbreaking finding were published in Nature Materials earlier this year. This pioneering research illustrates how mechanical stress at the cell membrane can support the formation of electric fields. These fields drive cells of the neural crest to move together, a fundamental process in development, and potentially also in wound healing, and disease progression.
Dr. Barriga now joins a list of esteemed researchers recognized by this award, which has previously honored scientists including PoL Principal Investigators Stephan Grill and Meri Huch, who won in separate years. Dr. Barriga formally received the award at a ceremony held on Monday, October 27, 2025 during the DGZ International Meeting in Heidelberg. Regarding acceptance of the award, Dr. Barriga said: „I am grateful for this award from DGZ and happy to join such a distinguished court of awardees. Of course, the award recognizes not only my efforts, but those of my team, mentors, and collaborators”.
Congratulations!
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About the German Society for Cell Biology
The German Society of Cell Biology, DGZ, was founded in 1975 with the aim to bring together scientists based in German research institutions working on various biological processes occurring within cells, the basic units of life. The major aim of the DGZ is to foster interactions among all types of cell biologists through networking activities at the national and international level. In addition, the DGZ is proud to acknowledge outstanding contributions to cell biology through a range of prestigious awards that cover all scientific career stages. The DGZ is a non-profit organization and largely supported by its membership subscriptions