Congratulations to our Principal Investigator of Frontrunner 5 Gertjan Medema! He won the Lee Kuan Yew Water Prize 2024 for his groundbreaking efforts in wastewater epidemiology and surveillance to combat the COVID-19 pandemic, which supported public health interventions and policies benefiting millions of people worldwide.

“Professor Medema is a renowned microbiologist and an expert in water quality and health, particularly known for his extensive research on the detection and control of waterborne pathogens. His work has significantly contributed to the world’s understanding of how waterborne pathogens are transmitted through water and how such transmission can be prevented. During the COVID-19 pandemic, his expertise was especially relevant as concerns about the presence and transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, in water systems emerged. At the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, Professor Medema and his team were the first to detect the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in the Netherlands, even before cases were officially reported in certain cities. Recognizing the importance of early detection and surveillance, he swiftly pivoted his team’s research to address the urgent need to monitor the spread of the virus.”

To read the full citation on Professor Medema, click here