Dr Johannes Blümel receives the 2025 IPFA Award
At its 31st IPFA/PEI International Workshop in Heidelberg, Germany the annual IPFA Award was presented by Stuart Chesneau, IPFA President.
The 2025 IPFA Award was presented to Dr. Johannes Blümel, Head of Virus Safety Section at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut in Langen, Germany.
This recognition is a testament to his groundbreaking contributions to the viral safety of blood products and plasma-derived medicines.
Dr. Blümel’s innovative research on virus inactivation techniques and detection of viruses by next generation sequencing significantly contributes to the safety and quality of these products, safeguarding countless patients from potential infections. His leadership and expertise in developing official guidelines, including international ones, continues to set high standards and influence the field.
About Johannes Blümel
Dr. Johannes Bluemel leads the viral safety section at the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut, Germany. He is responsible for the assessment of the virus and prion safety of blood products, recombinant DNA products, and advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) for clinical trials and marketing authorization. He participates as an expert at the EMA-Biologics Working Party (BWP), chairs the technical advisory board of the EDQM TSE-certification procedure, and has contributed to numerous monographs and guidelines on viral safety including representation of the European Union during revision of ICH Guideline Q5A. In addition, he is working on several research projects on virus inactivation and detection of viruses by next generation sequencing. He chairs the Ph. Eur. working party on high throughput sequencing for the detection of viral extraneous agents as well as the group on blood-associated pathogens for the German advisory board “Arbeitskeis Blut”. Before joining the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut in 1998, Dr. Bluemel worked at the University Hospital Bonn where he performed research on herpesvirus DNA virus replication and received his qualification in medical virology and virus diagnostics (Fachvirologe). Dr. Bluemel completed his diploma study in biology at the University of Freiburg, Germany where he also received his Ph.D. degree. In 2010 he received a teaching graduation (Habilitation) in medical virology from the University of Frankfurt.
About the IPFA award
With this Award, IPFA wants to recognise a person who has made exceptional contributions to the field of plasma collection, plasma fractionation, the manufacturing and provision of plasma derived medicinal products, patient care, safety and transfusion medicine.
The IPFA award has been granted since 2018. For previous award winners, please visit our website.