Silvio Brugger, Dr.med. et Dr. phil., Inst. für Infektionskrankheiten, Universität Bern, Prof. Dr.med. et phil. Kathrin Mühlemann. Dr. Bruggers actual research work is on the physiological regulation of the capsule characteristics of pneumococci and the epidemiology and biology of nasopharyngeal colonization. The awardee has already published an impressive number of papers in renowned journals and has obtained his MD-PhD degreee with "summa cum laude".