Iris Sommer wins Huibregtsen Prize

On Monday evening, 10 October, in Leiden, Iris Sommer received the 2022 Huibregtsen Prize. She  received the prize for her research into the unequal medical treatment of men and women.

Iris Sommer's pioneering work focuses, among other things, on the surprising fact that the female brain is much less well studied than the male brain. One of Sommer's key findings is that female hormones (such as estrogens) play a major protective role in psychotic disorders. While commonly prescribed antipsychotics actually appear to suppress the production of estrogens. With this important insight, Sommer has created new treatment guidelines for the care of women with psychotic disorders, and significantly improved the treatment prospects of female patients. This is a major achievement.

The Huibregtsen Prize was established in 2005 by the board of the Stichting De Avond van Wetenschap & Maatschappij (Night of Science & Society Foundation). The prize is intended for a recent research project that combines scientific quality and innovation with an exceptional added value for society. The prize is awarded during the Night of Science & Society and comprizes of a sculpture, ‘De Denker’ (The Thinker) by Wil van der Laan, the sum of €25,000, earmarked for research activities, and a workshop, offered by the Lorentz Center in Leiden.