Aim of the Douwe Breimer Award
Since 2022, the FIGON Douwe Breimer Award (previously named: “Erepenning”) has been awarded to individuals who have made a significant contribution to innovative pharmaceutical research in the Netherlands. This distinction recognizes and appreciates their efforts and achievements.
Nomination Criteria
- The candidate must have made a demonstrable and significant contribution to innovative
pharmaceutical research or development, or access or appropriate use of drugs or innovative
treatments in the Netherlands. - Contributions may include basic scientific research, the development of new medicines, or
other relevant activities that support pharmaceutical sciences in the Netherlands. - The candidate must have had a positive impact on the broader Dutch pharmaceutical
community.
Nomination Procedure
- Proposal: Only FIGON partners may nominate one candidate by submitting a proposal via
email to the FIGON board. The proposal must include:
- Name and contact details of the candidate
- A detailed description of the candidate’s contribution to innovative pharmaceutical
research. - Any supporting documents or references substantiating the nomination.
Submission: Proposals must be submitted to the FIGON secretariat at –
t.k.vandermade@uu.nl. The deadline is June 30th 2026, allowing the award ceremony to be
scheduled during the Dutch Medicines Days.
A maximum of one Douwe Breimer Award is awarded every other year.
Assessment Procedure
- Pre-selection: The FIGON board will make a pre-selection of nominations based on the
criteria. - Assessment Committee: An independent assessment committee, consisting of experts in
pharmaceutical research, will evaluate the pre-selection and provide a recommendation to
the board. - Decision: The FIGON daily board makes the final decision on awarding the Douwe Breimer
Award, based on the committee’s recommendation.
Award Ceremony
- The Douwe D. Breimer Distinguished Pharmaceutical Scientist Award is presented during a
bi-annual ceremony organized by FIGON at the Dutch Medicines Days. - The recipient will be notified in advance and invited to the ceremony to give a short lecture.
- The recipient’s name and a summary of their contribution will be published on the FIGON
website and in other relevant publications.
Recipients
2022: Prof. Meindert Danhof, LACDR, for his leadership and board work during and after the
founding of FIGON, and for his service and presidency of EUFEPS. In 2022, he stepped down from the FIGON daily board.
